Stuff I Love

[JRocco]

Here is some nice old copper.
I have had a fascination for Vatican medals for quite a while now. I have finally been able to locate a couple of nice sources for some real nice, clean Papal Medals. These are really awesome. Take a look at this piece.

It is a 1575 Papal Medal of Pope Gregory XIII.
This is the "Anno Santo/Holy Year" Issue
It is made of copper and measures 32mm (just smaller than a silver dollar). The obverse shows Pope Gregory XIII and the reverse shows the "Holy Year" Door which is opened only one year of every 25 years.



I often talk about how tough it was in our mint back in the early 1800's punching coins on a screw press, imagine what a bear it must have been back in 1575, in Italy, trying to punch this large copper. You can see the hand work involved. This one is a true gem and is in excellent condition.

[shanegalang]

That made my mouth water! Truly a fine specimen sir. May I be so rude as to inquire as to where you acquired such a nice piece? And how much did it set you back? Thanks, Shane

[coop]

Shane: Welcome to coppercoins. I forgot to mention it the other times. always nice to see a new face and new questions and later images of their collection. Enjoy the site, all here welcome you.

[JRocco]

Hi Shane,
These Vatican pieces really are awesome. I have been able to get a couple of European contacts from a local dealer here in NY, but you can find these turning up in auction and on EBay also. Be careful on EBay because there are a lot of reproductions out there and while they are also collectible, they are reproductions. As to price- that can really vary depending on not just the piece, but the condition also-like US coins. Figure most of these except for the rarer pieces can be had for $300-$500 on average.
Here is another copper, 30 mm. This is Pope Marcellus II 1555, probably made in the mid 1700's.
The obverse shows Pope Marcellus II wearing a cope and morse and on the reverse - Christ is giving the Keys to Saint Peter.
Mazio 74
Spink 561

[JRocco]

Let me cheat a little here with a bronze piece.
This medal is a first year issue of Pope Clement XII (1730-1740) This is dated the year it was made, 1730.
It is 30 mm and shows Clement XII on the obverse wearing Tiara and cope and justice is personified on the reverse with an allegorical figure holding scales in her right hand and a palm branch in her left.
If you look carefully you can see the designers name "Hameriani" punched on the rim on the reverse. The Hameriani's were the family that dominated papal medals in the 1700's.
Mazio 432
Spink 1764


Look at the relief on this exceptional piece.

[coop]

John: Probably the last image would make an innteresting avatar for you. I notice you don't have one yet. Just reduce the image to 125 pixels square and send it to Bob if your interested or any of your other images. They would make a great avatar.

[eagames]

Yes that would be a nice avatar.

It might just be my interpretation but the top bronze looks like the die was very hand made, looking close each detail has some imperfections and character. I can imagine a die maker creating that like an artist. The lower ones look more perfect. It might be the changes in how they made the dies for these. It's interesting stuff

[JRocco]

Hey guys,
I guess I should get off my behind and put an avatar on my acct. Just lazy I guess.
Ed, these really are works of art. They are engraved by medalists who are true artists in their trade. The first piece shown was engraved almost 150 years earlier than the next 2 medals which explains some of the crudeness of the medal. The piece is also pure copper not bronze (you can see the verdigris) and these pieces are incredible. The Marcellus II is also copper, but it looks to be less pure, more alloyed. When you place these down on a flat surface they rock and roll because the relief design is much higher than the rim on these medals. These are true works of art.
Take a look at this piece. I took a pic next to a quarter to give an idea of its size. This one weighs in at just about 1 pound! I no longer own this piece as I sold it to a real major medal collector a few years back and she had a case built for it to display it with pride. Talk about engraving----you can walk into this one....

[coop]

No rush John. The right image will come along to you. Any of your images would make a great avatar. Just email it to Bob or me and I will make it into an avatar if you like.
richard.cooper3@worldnet.att.net

[Dick]

My oldest grand-son just returned from Rome. He took the "girls", (Wife , and two daughters) there fior a visit, and to see the Vatican. He brought back a "silver" colored medal. I'll try to get some photos of it, next time I see him.
I have to agree with you on the beauty of the different medals. Too bad we can't have out coinage look "worthy" of our country.
Speaking of photos, these are so sharp, that you seem to actually be there, looking in, and then entering! Beautiful!!!
Dick

[Robert]

Truly great stuff!

Sadly the policy of coin design for art's sake ended roughly around WWI. Now it's all about production quantities etc. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, economically speaking, just different.

Another "world" copper coin I really admire is the Italian 10 centesimi of 1919-1937. They bridge the gap... tens of millions made each year but the artwork of a bee on a flower is really well done.

[Bob P]

I agree. Those are truly great looking medals. I didn't know they existed to be perfectly honest. I can definitely see how much work went into engraving these. Very nice indeed!

[Dick]

I found out the medal is here. It was given to the wife. Being so hard of hearibg, I didn't know it was a gift to her.


The madal appears to be made of aluminum, and is "dollar-sized".
I don't know how these will turn out. I don't have the facilities for making good photos.
Dick

[JRocco]

Hey Dick,
I am sorry but I am not able to help on the medal you posted. Maybe a GOOGLE search can dig up some info for you.

Let me show an example of a modern (1800's ??) reproduction.
This is a Vatican medal of Pope Pius IV 1563
It is 30 mm and the obverse shows the Bust of Pius IV wearing cope.
The reverse shows an armed female figure-sometimes identified as Minerva, but probably ROMA, standing proudly amidst piles of riches.
Still a very collectible piece and extremely hard to find.
Mazio 84
Spink 599

[JRocco]

Hey guys,
Here is an example of a real high end piece. This is a Pius IX Papal Medal.
This is a large heavy piece, struck in bronze. It measures 43mm (a little larger than a US Morgan Silver dollar).
It shows the bust of Pope Pius IX on the obverse wearing a full Tiara and cope while the reverse shows St. Peter with the Apostles forming a circle and the Holy Spirit flying above.
This one is very nice in hand.