PIUS XI

(February 6, 1922 – February 10, 1939)

	AG 44 mm Obv.: PIVS · XI · \| PONT · MAX · ANNO· III· Bust of the pope, r., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and stole. (beneath the bust:) MISTRVZZI
	Rev.: GREGORIANVM \| ABHINC ANC SOC IESV REST The Facade of the Papal Gregorian University, the new building presented by Pope Pius XI.. NOVA SEDE DONATVR \| MCMXXIV Bartolotti, E924. Mazio-Jencius, 883.

	AG 60 mm Obv.: PIVS · XI · \| PONT · MAX Bust of the pope, r., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and stole.
	Rev.: ANNO JVBILEI \| ROMÆ MCMXXV Pope, with hammer, before the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica; surrounded by cardinals, bishops and courtiers. [Ceremony of the Opening of the Holy Door, Christmas, 1924] .

Pius XI opening the Holy Door, 1924
Pius XI opening the Holy Door
Christmas, 1924

AG

Obv.:

PIVS · XI · PONT · | MAX · A · V

MISTRVZZI

Pope Pius XI, r., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta and stole.

Figure of Archaeology, in a museum setting, holding a lamp and tablet

Rev.:

SCHOLA • ARCHAEOLOGIAE • CHRIST • |
ROMAE • INSTITVTA |
MCMXXVI

Celebrates the creation of the Institute of Christian Archaeology. Symbolic veiled figure, seated, representing Knowledge or Archaeology, with a lamp of knowledge in right hand, a tablet in left (inscribed ROMA SOTTERRANEA, the title of their journal). Behind her are the tombs of the catacombs.

Bartolotti, E926.
Mazio-Jencius, 885.

The Pontifical Commission for Christian Archaeology was created by Pius IX (January 6, 1852) "to take care of the ancient sacred cemeteries, look after their preventive preservation, further explorations, research and study, and also safeguard the oldest mementos of the early Christian centuries, the outstanding monuments and venerable Basilicas in Rome, in the Roman suburbs and soil, and in the other Dioceses in agreement with the respective Ordinaries". Pius XI made the Commission pontifical (Motu Proprio I primitivi cemeteri of December 11, 1925) and expanded its powers. Through the Lateran Pacts (art. 33 of the Concordat), its authority and its sphere of action and study were extended to all the existing catacombs on the Italian territory. The new Concordat of 1984 (art. 12) confirmed this state of affairs for the Christian catacombs. "In the places entrusted to it, nothing can be modified without its permission; it directs any work to be done and publishes its results; it establishes the rules for access by the public and scholars to the sacred cemeteries and indicates which crypts can be used for the holy liturgy and with what precautions". Through the Commission, the work of the Roman Pontifical Academy of Archaeology and the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology is coordinated. Moreover, the Commission continues to be interested in the activity of the Society for the Conferences of Christian Archaeology and the Collegium Cultorum Martyrum” (Motu Proprio of Pius XI, December 11, 1925; Regulations for the P.C.S.A., §II, No. 10). (Annuario Pontificio, 2001, pp. 1621-1622).

AG

Obv.:

PIVS · XI · PONT · | MAX · A · VII

MISTRVZZI

Pope Pius XI, r., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, stole and eyeglasses.

Rev.:

RVSSICVM S THERESIÆ |
AB I IESV |

(in exergue:) MCMXXVIII

The Russian College, dedicated to St. Theresa of Lisieux, founded by Pius XI in 1928 in what was once the Monastery of S. Antonio Abate.

Mazio-Jencius, 887.

AG
44 mm

Obv.:

PIVS • XI • PONTIFEX • MAXIMVS • ANNO • VIII

(beneath bust:) MISTRVZZI

Bust of Pope Pius XI, l., wearing zucchetto and cope

The Eucharist in front of Lateran Basilica and St Peter's Basilica

Rev.:

MDCCCLXXIX | MCMXXIX

(in exergue:) PACE CHRISTI ITALIAE | REDDITA

The Holy Eucharist, in front of The Lateran Basilica and St. Peter's Basilica

Sculptor: Aurelio Mistruzzi
Bartolotti, E929.
Calò, p. 32 #4.

	AG Obv.: PIO · XI · VITT · EMAN · III (to left of busts:) O · MARINI Conjoined Busts of Pope Pius XI and King Vittorio Emannuele III, r.,
	Rev.: CONCILIAZIONE \| CHIESA–STATO (at left, in field) 1870–1929 \| ANNO VII Coat of Arms of the Pope on a five-pointed star, above the Capitoline Wolf; an olive branch behind, horizontally. [Celebrating the Lateran Pact of 1929] Sculptor: O. Marini Calò, #7.

	AG 36 mm Obv.: PIVS · XI · PONTI\|FEX · MAXIMVS (beneath bust:) K. ROTH Bust of Pope Pius XI, l., wearing the papal Tiara (Triregnum) and cope
	Rev.: TV·ES·PETRVS·ET·SVPER·HANC·PET\|RAM·AEDIFICABO·ECCLESIAM· MEAM (in the field:) 19 \| 29 Coat of Arms of the Pope. Above: Keys of St. Peter. Above all: Papal Tiara (triregnum) Sculptor: K. Roth Calò, p. 38 #19.

	AG 36 mm Obv.: PIVS · XI · PONT · MAX Bust of Pope Pius XI, l., wearing zucchetto and cope
	Rev.: A·D·XI·II \| ·MCMXXIX St. Peter, tablet with PAX in left hand, keys in right, sitting on a globe, with Citta del Vaticano inscribed. Celebrates the signing of the Lateran Pact. Sculptor: Karl Goetz (1875-1952) G. Kienast, #420. [not a papal issue]

(AV, AG,) AE
44 mm.

Obv.:

PIVS · XI · PONTIFEX · MAXIMVS · SACRI · PRINC· ANNO · X ·

(beneath the bust:) MISTRUZZI

Bust of the pope, l., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and stole.

Rev.:

+LIB•BASILICAE•ARCU•MVSIVO•ALA•TRANSVERSA•PONT• MVNIFICIA•FELIC•RESTITVTIS•AN•AB•EPHESINA•SYNODO• MD

The Interior of the Liberian Basilica (Santa Maria Maggiore).

[Pius XI had the interior of the basilica restored, especially the triumphal arch and the tribuna, to celebrate the 1500th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus, A.D. 431]

Sculptor: Aurelio Mistruzzi
Calò, p. 42, #29

(AV, AG,) AE
44 mm.

Obv.:

PIVS · XI · PONTIFEX · MAXIMVS · A · X ·

(beneath the bust:) MISTRUZZI

Bust of the pope, l., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and stole.

Angels and electrical radio waves flying through the air

Rev.:

AVRIBVS · PERCIPITE · OMNES · QVI · HABITATIS · ORBEM

[in exergue:]
XII · FEBR · MCMXXXI | IN · CIVIT · VATIC ·

Allegorical figure, with a trumpet, flying above the globe of the earth, rays of electricity emanating from his right hand.

[Commemorates the opening of the Vatican City Radio Station, built by Guglielmo Marconi, February 12, 1931]

Sculptor: Aurelio Mistruzzi
Calò, #28; Mazio-Jencius, 890..

(AV, AG,) AE
44 mm.

Obv.:

PIVS • XI •PONTIFEX • MAXIMVS •A •XII •

(beneath the bust:) MISTRUZZI

Bust of the pope, l., wearing zucchetto and cope.

Rev.:

ANN•SCS•REDEMPTI | ONIS•MCMXXXIII-IV

[in exergue:] •ROMA•

The Holy Door, open, a cross revealed within.

[Commemorates the opening of the Holy Door for the 1900th anniversary of the Resurrection]

Sculptor: Aurelio Mistruzzi
Calò, #28; Mazio-Jencius, 890..

	(AV) AG (AE) 44 mm. Obv.: PIVS · XI · PONTIFEX · MAXIMVS · AN · XIII · (beneath the bust:) MISTRUZZI Bust of the pope,rl., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and stole.
	Rev.: ANNO · SACRO · REDEMPTIONIS · FELICITER · ABSOLVTO · The bare cross, with seven kneeling saints gathered below, floating on clouds. [Commemorates the closing of the special Holy Year of 1933-34, observing the 2000th year since the Redemption. In April-May, 1934, seven saints were canonized.] Sculptor: Aurelio Mistruzzi Calò, #48; Mazio-Jencius, 893..

The seven saints were: St. John Bosco, St. Conrad of Parzham, Sta. Teresa Margherita, St. Giuseppe Cottolegno,
Sta. Louise de Marillac, St. Pompilio Porrotti, and Sta Maria Michele del Santissimo Sacramento.

	(AV, AG,) AE 44 mm. Obv.: PIVS · XI · PONTIFEX · MAXIMVS · A · XV · (beneath the bust:) MISTRUZZI Bust of the pope, r., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and stole.
	Rev.: SACRIS ROMANAE CVRIAE \| CONGREGATIONIBVS \| APTA SEDES \| A FVNDAMENTIS \| EXCITATA View of the facade of the new building constructed to house the offices of various congregations of the Roman Curia. Bartolotti, E936. Sculptor: Aurelio Mistruzzi Calò, #28; Mazio-Jencius, 890..

AG
44 mm.

Obv.:

PIVS · XI · PONTIFEX · MAXIMVS · A · XVII ·

(beneath the bust:) MISTRUZZI

Bust of the pope, r., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and stole.

The Pontifical Lateran Athenaeum building

Rev.:

AN•CD•A•NAT•S•CAROLI•BOROMAEI

(in exergue:) ATHENAEVM•LATERAN | A•FVNDAMENTIS | EXCITATVM

View of the facade of the new building constructed to house the Pontifical Lateran Athenaeum. Founded in 1773, the Lateranum established the faculties of Canon Law and Civil Law in 1853. In 1959 John XXIII granted the Lateranum the status of "Pontifical University"

Sculptor: Aurelio Mistruzzi
Calò, #28; Mazio-Jencius, 890..

January 17, 2010 3:48 PM

John Paul Adams, CSUN
john.p.adams@csun.edu

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