ITALY, Papal (Prisoner of the Vatican). Pius IX. 1846-1878. AV Medal (44mm, 52.96 g, 12h). By Bianchi. Dated RY 27 and 1871 (in Roman numerals), though struck 1873. EF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 1210. Estimated: $ 4 000

World Medals, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 5 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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ITALY, Papal (Prisoner of the Vatican). Pius IX. 1846-1878. AV Medal (44mm, 52.96 g, 12h). By Bianchi. Dated RY 27 and 1871 (in Roman numerals), though struck 1873. PIVS · IX · PONT · MAX · AN · XXVII ·, bust left, wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and pallium / View of the Cappella Sistina del Santissimo Sacramento in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (Liberian Basilica); in exergue, SACELLVM · XYSTIN · IN · BASIL · LIB ·/ OPERIB · RENOVATIS · EXCVLTVM/ A · MDCCCLXXI ·. Rinaldi 66; Lincoln –. Minor rim dent, a few hairlines. EF. Very rare in gold.

Ex Querendon Collection (Stack’s, 10 January 2011), lot 778. Presented to the Querendon collector by Pope Pius XII in 1956/7.

‘Prisoner of the Vatican’ refers to the period between Rome’s capture by the newly unified Kingdom of Italy on 20 September 1870 and the establishment of Vatican City by the Lateran Treaty of 1929. For the 59 intervening years, Popes Pius IX (1846-1878), Leo XIII (1878-1903), Pius X (1903-1914), Benedict XV (1914-1922), and Pius XI (1922-1939) refused to leave the Vatican, make public appearances at Saint Peter’s Square, or do anything that would acknowledge the authority of the Kingdom of Italy over the Vatican district.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session Four – Lot 984–1341 will be held Wednesday afternoon, 10 January 2024 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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