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Pius IX: Reconstruction of Saint Paul's Basilica
Ignazio Bianchi (Italian, active 1848–1869)
Italian (Rome)
1869
Mint: Rome, Italy
Medium/Technique
Metal; bronze
Dimensions
Diameter and weight: 83 mm, 273.7 gm (3 1/4 in., 9.65 oz.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Helen O. Bigelow
Accession NumberRES.23.175
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsNumismatics – Medals
DescriptionCircular medal of Pope Pius IX (1792-1878), commemorating the reconstruction of Saint Paul's Basilica (1854).
Obverse: Profile bust of Pius IX looking to proper right, wearing cap and lowered hood with floral linework pattern at edge; inscribed at edge "PIVS·IX·PONT·MAX·" and under bust "I·BIANCH·S·".
Reverse: Interior view of Vatican down multi-bayed nave with ciborium over cathedra at end; inscribed at edge "[flower] PROSPECTVS·INTERIOR·BASILICAE·VATICANAE·DEO·SACRAE·IN·HONOREM·BEATI·PETRI·PR·AP·" and in exergue "I·EQ·BIANCHI·DELIN·ET·SCVL·/AN·MDCCCLXIX/--·--".
Obverse: Profile bust of Pius IX looking to proper right, wearing cap and lowered hood with floral linework pattern at edge; inscribed at edge "PIVS·IX·PONT·MAX·" and under bust "I·BIANCH·S·".
Reverse: Interior view of Vatican down multi-bayed nave with ciborium over cathedra at end; inscribed at edge "[flower] PROSPECTVS·INTERIOR·BASILICAE·VATICANAE·DEO·SACRAE·IN·HONOREM·BEATI·PETRI·PR·AP·" and in exergue "I·EQ·BIANCHI·DELIN·ET·SCVL·/AN·MDCCCLXIX/--·--".
InscriptionsObverse: Inscribed at edge "PIVS·IX·PONT·MAX·" and under bust "I·BIANCH·S·".
Reverse: Inscribed at edge "[flower] PROSPECTVS·INTERIOR·BASILICAE·VATICANAE·DEO·SACRAE·IN·HONOREM·BEATI·PETRI·PR·AP·" and in exergue "I·EQ·BIANCHI·DELIN·ET·SCVL·/AN·MDCCCLXIX/--·--".
Reverse: Inscribed at edge "[flower] PROSPECTVS·INTERIOR·BASILICAE·VATICANAE·DEO·SACRAE·IN·HONOREM·BEATI·PETRI·PR·AP·" and in exergue "I·EQ·BIANCHI·DELIN·ET·SCVL·/AN·MDCCCLXIX/--·--".
Provenance1923, Helen O. Bigelow; 1923, bequest of Helen O. Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: May 3, 1923)