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Pius IX: Reconstruction of Saint Paul's Basilica
Ignazio Bianchi (Italian, active 1848–1869)
Italian (Rome)
1854
Mint: Rome, Italy
Medium/Technique
Metal; bronze
Dimensions
Diameter and weight: 83 mm, 259.2 gm (3 1/4 in., 9.14 oz.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Helen O. Bigelow
Accession NumberRES.23.178
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; inscribed at edge in band "PIVS·IX·PONT·MAX·" and under bust "I·BIANCH F·".
Reverse: Interior view of Saint Paul's, looking down nave toward monument within an apse; inscribed at edge in band "[flower] PIVS·IX·P·M·BASILICAM·PAVLI·APOST·AB·INCENDIO·REFECTAM·SOLEMNI·RITV·CONSECRAVIT·IV·ID·DEC·MDCCCLIV", on basilica's floor "I·BIANCH·F·", and in exergue "AL·POLETTI·ARCH·INV·".
Obverse: Profile bust of Pius IX looking to proper right, wearing cap; inscribed at edge in band "PIVS·IX·PONT·MAX·" and under bust "I·BIANCH F·".
Reverse: Interior view of Saint Paul's, looking down nave toward monument within an apse; inscribed at edge in band "[flower] PIVS·IX·P·M·BASILICAM·PAVLI·APOST·AB·INCENDIO·REFECTAM·SOLEMNI·RITV·CONSECRAVIT·IV·ID·DEC·MDCCCLIV", on basilica's floor "I·BIANCH·F·", and in exergue "AL·POLETTI·ARCH·INV·".
InscriptionsObverse: Inscribed at edge "PIVS·IX·PONT·MAX·" and under bust "I·BIANCH F·".
Reverse: Inscribed at edge in band "[flower] PIVS·IX·P·M·BASILICAM·PAVLI·APOST·AB·INCENDIO·REFECTAM·SOLEMNI·RITV·CONSECRAVIT·IV·ID·DEC·MDCCCLIV" and on basilica's floor "I·BIANCH·F·", and in exergue "AL·POLETTI·ARCH·INV·".
Reverse: Inscribed at edge in band "[flower] PIVS·IX·P·M·BASILICAM·PAVLI·APOST·AB·INCENDIO·REFECTAM·SOLEMNI·RITV·CONSECRAVIT·IV·ID·DEC·MDCCCLIV" and on basilica's floor "I·BIANCH·F·", and in exergue "AL·POLETTI·ARCH·INV·".
Provenance1923, Helen O. Bigelow; 1923, bequest of Helen O. Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: May 3, 1923)