Vatican, Medal, Pius IX
Restoration of Via Appia - 1874 (Anno XXIX) - Silver
Bust of Pius IX, wearing zucchetto, mozzetta and stole, right.
Sculpture of the Martyrdom of San Sebastiano by Antonio Giorgetti (in the Basilica of San Sebastiano outside the Walls), with a view of the Via Appia in the background and the tomb of Caecilia Metella and the front of the Basilica of San Sebastian Outside the Walls.
Medal engraved to commemorate the restoration of monuments on the Via Appia by Pius IX in 1852. Bartolotti 874. Rinaldi 68. With its collector's ticket.
PIVS IX • PONTIFEX • MAXIMVS • ANNO VII
VIA APPIA RESTITVTA // A TEMP • S • SEBASTIANI • XP • M • / AD BOVILLAS
33.34 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
