Looking for info on private Issue Pope medallian

RWW · March 5, 2011 6:33AM

Can you help me identify this medal? It's 2 inches in diameter, in medal alignment, pretty heavy, and I think it's silver. Thanks!

STLNATS · March 5, 2011 9:26AM

Not an official Vatican City medal but a private/souvenir issue in honor of John 23rd (1959-1962). Reverse is the good shepherd . I've seen this obverse used with a number of different reverses, usually in copper/bronze or white medal. Haven't seen it in silver but I suppose it could be altho there doesn't seem to be any hallmarks or fineness marks.

RWW · March 5, 2011 10:32AM

Thanks!

I'm guessing its silver because it rings like silver when the edge is struck, but probably wouldn't know for sure without doing a Specific Gravity test.

ProofArtworkonCircs · March 5, 2011 3:17PM

RWW - please edit the title. You are confusing simple minds like mine.

STLNATS · March 6, 2011 12:42AM

Here are a couple of other examples of medals on ebay with the same obverse; the owner of the second medal has several others of this type all in what seem to be white medal.

linky
linky2

edited to add: I rummaged thru my old Jencius Coins lists and found that this exact reverse was used with a private silver over bronze issue medal of Pius XI. The reverse is attributed to the artist/designer Boninsegna (which is a name I don't recognize). Also, a 50 mm silver over bronze issue was offered using the same John 23rd obverse with a different reverse at $15 for a mint condition example. No other details were offered about either medal, but you might wish to contact Jencius to see if they have any additional information for these commercial issues.

edited again to add:

Looks like an example of your medal showed up on ebay this morning:

linky3

Looking for info on private Issue Pope medallian

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