Coins and Medals of the Popes: Representatives of the Catholic Church

The manifold depictions inspired collectors to systematically build up ensembles of these pieces of high artistic value. So there is reason to argue that the numerous coins and medals of the popes were mainly issued for representative purposes and to be sold to collectors. This is a similar phenomenon to what we experience regarding Vatican euro coins today, as these pieces can also hardly ever be found in circulation.

The Papal States: Territorial Dominion and a Center of Early Tourism

In the mid-16th century, the power of the papacy was long past its zenith. The undisputed ruler over the souls of the faithful had become an Italian territorial prince like any other. However, the late 16th century saw new development arise: although Rome had lost its status as the center of Western politics, it evolved into a hotspot of early tourism and became the most important stop of any grand tour.

Grand tours were soon considered an indispensable part of the educational journey of any young nobleman throughout Europe. It did not serve the purpose of recreation. Instead, the young men learnt in a very practical way about the skills they needed to master to get one of the coveted administrative positions in the princely service. They wrote and conversed in Latin, Italian and French, learnt how to move in high society under the auspices of a companion, and fostered friendships as well as political alliances that would last for many years. Briefly said, having completed one’s grand tour was part of the identity of the European nobility.

Of course these aristocrats attached importance to bringing home physical evidence of their stay in the holy city. And since transporting such souvenirs was a costly matter, they preferred small objects – which brings us to the coins and medal issues of the popes.

A Well-Devised Means of Papal Propaganda

Be it coins or medals – the carefully chosen depictions became excellent means for a pope to convey his religious, political and cultural objectives. Thanks to enthusiastic souvenir hunters, who flocked to Rome from all over the world, the papal messages on the issues spread throughout Europe.

Thus, the Vatican developed a well-devised numismatic program that was used by all popes. It did not only contain coins of various face values but also different types of medals. They were often linked to a particular event. For example, there are medals issued on the occasion of an election or a so-called possessio, the ceremony of the Washing of the Feet, a jubilee year or canonizations. We know of medals of merit and anniversary medals, and there are also many special medals such as pieces depicting architecture that were produced to have them integrated into the foundations of buildings.

The Possessio Medal

Let us begin with the medal issued on the occasion of the possessio, a parade that played a crucial role in the official inauguration of every pope. This act was materialized through a magnificent procession. After due preparation, the newly elected pope would march from the Vatican to San Giovanni in Laterano on a white mule or a white horse at the head of all of his clergy. There he was greeted by a clerical delegation that handed him the keys to the church. The whole of Rome took part in these celebrations. Every social group had a role to play. Guilts and nations decorated the streets and neighborhoods they inhabited. The city council erected a triumphal arch. And all those who had no specific task to accomplish stood at the side of the road and cheered.

After the pope had taken up residence in the Lateran, he made a so-called presbyterian donation and distributed a gold and a silver medal each to every cardinal. The pieces required for this were kept by the supreme treasurer in a red and a white damask bag. During the ceremony, he took the pieces out for each of them, handed them to the cardinal deacon, who in turn handed them to the pope, who then dropped them graciously into the cardinal’s hands.

Of course, the cardinals were not the only ones to receive such medals. They were given to all bishops, important dignitaries, ambassadors, Roman noblemen, high-ranking pilgrims and many others. The ruling dynasties of Europe received their specimen from the nuncio, the papal ambassador. He personally handed over the precious piece in the audience in which he officially announced the possessio of the new pope.

Whoever could afford it kept these medals as a sign of papal favor. Depending on its value, the specimens were either placed in a coin collection or proudly worn on a gold chain. Some people even punched a few holes in their medals and sewed them onto a hat.

Those who were in need of the material value of the medal sold the precious piece. After all, there was high demand for them in Rome. A flourishing coin trade had established itself there. Those who had no personal connections to the Catholic Church and did not receive a medal during the celebrations could buy the coveted pieces – at least if they had enough money.

The Annual Medal

29 June, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, was another date on which papal medals were distributed every year. This was not unusual in early modern times. Back then, every major prince, and every small nobleman engaged in a gift ceremony at least once a year and gave presents to everyone he felt somehow connected to. Coins and medals were particularly popular gifts. On this occasion, the pope used to issue three different versions of a medal –in gold, in silver and in bronze. The reverse sides highlighted the most important event of the last papal year.

Those who did not receive a papal medal could purchase the pieces from the papal engraver. After all, the latter was allowed to keep the dies he created and produce re-strikes as often as he wished. The dies were in his possession and he could bequeath and sell them. That explains the fact that there are many late re-strikes of papal medals.

The Coin Trade in Rome

This means that those who wanted to buy coins and medals to transport them across the Alps first went to Via del Pellegrino, where the gold smiths were located. If they considered a new re-strike to be too expensive, they could try Via dei Coronari, which is named after the rosaries offered there by traders in devotional objects. Needless to say, these merchants also sold medals. And then, of course, there were street vendors. You could get lucky and actually acquire a genuine piece from them, but it was much more common to buy a more or less well made cast of the kind that can also still be found in collections to this day.

In other words, it was best for laypeople to seek out expert advice. But not all those who called themselves an expert could be trusted. Too many Cicerones did excellent business by encouraging their clients to buy poor objects at expensive prices. Blessed were those who could rely on an experienced antiquarian as a coin dealer, like the great rulers of Europe did. People like Jacopo Strada, Fulvio Orsini or Francesco Gottifredi knew all the tricks of the shady street vendors. On behalf of their clients, they preferred to purchase entire collections and sell them to their clients for a good profit.

London as a Center of the Trade in Papal Coins and Medals

What started in the mid-16th century became a wide-spread phenomenon in the late 18th century. The years after the end of the Seven Years’ War and before Napoleon’s campaigns are today regarded as the golden age of grand tours. English lords in particular travelled to Rome and bought anything they could get their hands on. Thus, London developed into a center of auctions offering papal coins and medals. In the 18th century, almost 100 of such sales took place in London. However, auction catalogs did not always distinguish between coins and medals. This is hardly surprising as inexperienced numismatists still struggle to differentiate between both categories today. The coins have beautiful reverse motifs and can be easily mistaken for medals, and were just as readily exported to Europe as souvenirs.

An Inexhaustible Source of Imagery

The papal production of coins and medals was of course stimulated by the demand of visitors to Rome. Those who produced the coins readily opted for depictions that were sure to appeal to tourists. Of course, the Catholic faith was at the center, but the abundance of buildings and scenes with crowds of people is striking. They must have been more popular with tourists! Here, too, many aspects remind us of modern phenomena of commemorative coinage, which focuses on the needs and wishes of collectors. Papal issues present the image of Rome that tourists would expect and wanted to show to their loved ones at home.

The catalog for Künker’s upcoming auction 403 provides you with an opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the oldest fields of numismatic interest. If you understand German and want to learn more about the historical background, we recommend “Die Silberne Stadt – Rom im Spiegel seiner Medaillen” of the State Coin Collection in Munich, published in 2021 by Hirmer Verlag and edited by Matteo Burioni and Martin Hirsch. We relied on this work regarding many details in this article. Another interesting read is the work “Glänzende Propaganda – Kirchengeschichte auf Papstmedaillen” by Kay Ehling and Jörg Ernesti, published in 2019 by the Herder Verlag.