Vatican bronze medal of Pope Pius IX, 1872
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1872
This Vatican commemorative bronze medal dates to 1872 and features a portrait of Pope Pius IX, who served as the leader of the Catholic Church from 1846 until 1878.
The medal is circular, measuring 35 mm in diameter, and has a physical weight of 18.61 grams. The obverse depicts a profile bust of Pope Pius IX facing right, wearing his traditional papal vestments, including the zucchetto and an ornate stole. The relief is surrounded by a Latin inscription identifying the subject. The medal displays high craftsmanship in the portrait details, capturing the likeness of the pontiff during a pivotal period of his long reign, which was marked by the First Vatican Council, the loss of the Papal States, and his self-described status as the Prisoner of the Vatican.
This numismatic piece serves as an historical artifact reflecting the ecclesiastical and political environment of the late 19th-century Vatican.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Weight
- 18.61 g
- Diameter
- 35 mm
- Material
- bronze
Design
- Obverse
- Profile portrait bust of Pope Pius IX facing right with Latin inscription
- Inscription
- PIVS IX PONT MAX, ANNO SECLARI XVIII A MARTYRIO BB. APP. PETRI ET PAVLI
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.