3996) The Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, and Pope Francis: CITTA 'DEL VATICANO (Vatican City): The IPZS, Italy (In English, it translates to State Printing Works and Mint) has minted a 50 Euro Gold Coin which features a kneeling Late Pope Francis on one face and The Shrine on the other: Year of Coin issue 2015:
A brief note as to how this Coin came to Pune, India:
The Coin was purchased from Vatican City by Jayant's friend in the United Kingdom (UK). It was shipped to another friend in Singapore who brought this coin to Nasik, India where it changed hands and came into the possession of Jayant along with a 20 Euro Gold Coin, who brought the two gold coins to my residence two days ago for taking pictures, which both of us did very meticulously. I spent the whole day yesterday researching for this post. I have am writing two posts, one each on the 50 and 20 Euro Gold Coins.
50 Euros Pope Francis 2015 Vatican Gold Coin:
The Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei (Italian: Pontificio Santuario della Beata Vergine del Santo Rosario di Pompei) is a Catholic cathedral, Marian pontifical shrine, and Pontifical minor basilica commissioned and co-founded by Bartolo Longo and his wife the Countess Mariana di Fusco, located in Pompei, Italy.
It is the see of the Territorial Prelature of Pompei.
History:
Bartolo Longo started restoring a church in disrepair in October 1873 and promoted a festival in honour of "Our Lady of the Rosary".
In 1875, Longo obtained a painting of Our Lady of the Rosary from a convent in Naples and raised funds to restore the image so as to locate it in the church.
Miracles began to be reported and pilgrims began flocking in droves to the church.
Three hundred people of the area pledged a penny a month for the work.
Bartolo Longo was encouraged by Giuseppe Formisano, Bishop of Nola, to begin the construction of a larger church—the cornerstone being laid on the 8 May 1876.
The church was consecrated on the 7 May 1891 by Cardinal Raffaele Monaco La Valletta, representing Pope Leo XIII.
Pope Benedict XVI presented his sixth Golden Rose to the shrine on the 19 October 2008.
Our Lady of the Rosary: Painting of our Lady of the Rosary venerated in Pompeii:
The painting of "Our Lady of the Rosary" with its bronze gilt frame is presented to the pilgrims on the high altar.
The venerated painting depicts the Virgin Mary and Child Jesus presenting rosaries to Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine of Siena.
Originally bought by Dominican priest Alberto Radente for eight carlini in Naples, it was offered to Bartolo Longo on the 13 November 1875 for the church he was building in Pompei.
An attempt was made by an amateur to restore it, and it was placed in the church on 13 February 1876, the foundation day for the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary there.
In 1880 the famous Italian painter, Federico Madlarelli, offered to restore the image. It was again finally restored by Vatican artists in 1965.
Bartolo Longo composed the "Novena of Petition" in July 1879, testing it by himself while he suffered from typhoid fever.
The text was inspired by a daily vision of a miraculous portrait of Our Lady of the Rosary, to which the Novena was first dedicated in Pompei.
The full Prayer consists in a daily pronunciation of at least three decades (three Holy Mysteries) of the Rosary each day followed by the Novena. It takes 54 days of time, without interruption.
On 23 April 1965, the painting was personally crowned by Pope Paul VI.
In November 2024, Pope Francis wrote a letter timed to coincide with the 150 year sesqui-centenary anniversary of the arrival of the painting at Pompeii in 1875. The letter generated reports in all of the main catholic news services globally.
Architecture:
The original building built between 1876 and 1891 and designed by Antonio Cua followed a Latin cross plan. It was only 420 square metres (4,500 sq ft).
The construction of the façade, work of Giovanni Rispoli, started on the 15 May 1893.
The façade culminates with the statue of the Virgin of the Rosary (18,000 kg (40,000 lb), 3.25 m (10.7 ft)), work of Gaetano Chiaromonte, carved from a single block of Carrara marble, beneath which are placed the word "PAX" and the year "MCMI" (1901).
To accommodate the increasing numbers of pilgrims, the sanctuary was expanded between 1934 and 1939 from one to three aisles, keeping its Latin cross plan. The project was ordered by Prelate Antonio Anastasio Rossi and designed by the architect-priest Monsignor Spirito Maria Chiapetta.
Each new aisle has three altars on each side. The new building with its 2,000 square metres (22,000 sq ft) can accommodate up to 6,000 people.
The 80-metre (260 ft) bell tower built between 1912 and 1925 was designed by Aristide Leonori, assisted by his brother Pio Leonori.
The Gold Coin:
Reverse: The 50 Euro gold coin shows an image of the Holy Father on his knees absorbed in prayer holding a rosary.
On the sides of the coin, engraved in a circle: “FRANCISCVS PP. A.D. MMXV-S.P. III" (eng. Pope Francis 2015).
Obverse: a stylised view of the impressive architecture featured in this coin side. The name of the country "CITTA 'DEL VATICANO" (eng. "Vatican City Country") is minted on the sides of the coin. At the bottom we can see a denomination "50 EURO". To the left is the mintmark "R" next to the denomination denoting the Mint of Rome.
About the coin: The Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii introduces theme for the 20 and 50 euro gold coins that started 2015 and for the following two years was dedicated to the papal basilicas of Pompeii, Padua and Loreto.
The history of the Shrine of Pompeii began with Blessed Bartolo Longo who, in addition to dedicating his life to serving the poor, also instituted a collection to go towards building the first structure for a future Basilica of Pompeii.
The Presentation Box/Case - Closed.
The specifications of the 50 Euros Pope Francis 2015 Vatican Gold Coin are:
Denomination: 50 Euro; Year of issue: 2015; Coin Quality: Proof (P) (mirror surface, matte relief); Metal Composition: Gold; Gold net weight: 13.75 grams; Purity: 917; Total weight: 15.00 grams; Diameter: 28.00 (mm); Minted By: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, (IPZS), Italy. (In English, it translates to State Printing Works and Mint); Country of origin: Vatican City.
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The image of the coin provided is for
illustrative purposes only - the purchased coin may differ in year, condition
or other details.
- Categories: Gold Coins by Country Vatican Gold Coins Gold Bullion coins Investment gold Gold Coins Gold Coins by Weight 1/2 oz. Gold coins.
(The Above Gold Coin is from the Collection of Jayant Biswas. Post researched and written by Rajeev Prasad)
The Twelve Apostles Coin Series:
7) Michelangelo's "Pieta", Vatican City: New Copper Coin Series titled "Art and Faithy": A 10 Euro Copper Coin minted by the "Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca Dello Stato" (IPZS) on behalf of the "Ufficio Filatelico e Numismatico Governatorato della Cotta del Vaticano": Coin issue date: 05.03.2020
8) Ancient Postal Routes, Vatican City State: EUROPA 2020 Theme: Two stamps of 1.10 Euro and 1.15 Euro issued by the Ufficio filatelico e Numismatico -Governatorato, Vaticano featuring Ancient Postal Routes emanating from the Vatican City State during the 6th & 11th Centuries AD
Links to Posts on Marco Polo on this Blog:
Posts on the Ryder Cup on this Blog:
Italian Excellence Coin Series:
