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Miniature circular bronze medal with integral bar for ribbon suspension; the face with a naked rider mounted on a standing horse on a rocky outcrop, a spirit in his right hand summoning up a standard and fasces; the reverse with rows of hands horizontally from the left and right either side of a flame, inscribed below ‘PER L’ITALIA ORA E SEMPRE’ (For Italy Now and Always) above a line with a circular scroll at either end; diameter 12.32mm (0.48 inch); on original ribbon.
The medal was created in 1923 after the coming to power of the Fascists in Italy on the first anniversary of the March on Rome. Although not officially authorised, the medal was worn in the same way as other campaign medals and awarded to those who had participated in the Fascist rise to power from the formation of the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento (Italian Fighting League) by Benito Mussolini on 23 February 1919 to the Marcia su Roma (March on Rome) of 28 October 1922 and Mussolini’s assumption of power in Italy three days later.
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