INNOCENT X

(September 15, 1644 – January 1, 1655)

	AE 36 mm Obv.: INNOCENTIVS • X • PONT • MAX • (beneath the bust) AN • IX • G • M • Bust of the Pope, facing left, wearing the camauro and mozzetta
	Rev.: REPLEVIT ORBEM TERRARVM The Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, with the inscription below, the whole surrounded by an olive wreath Sculptor: Gasparo Mola Mazio, #243.

AE
36 mm

Obv.:

INNOC • X • PON • MAX • A • IVB •

(beneath the bust:) G • M • | • MDCL •

Bust of the Pope, r., wearing tiara (triregnum) and cope

[die break at 4:00]

The Holy Door at St. Peters being broken down by the Pope

Rev.:

OSTIVM COELI | APERTVM IN | TERRIS •

Ceremony of the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica, Christmas 1649, marking the beginning of the Jubilee Year of 1650..

Sculptor: Gaspare Molo
Mazio, 234.
Spink, 1124.

AE
36 mm

Obv.:

INNOCENTIVS • X + PONT • MAX • A • VII

(in field:) ANN || IVB | 16 || 50

(in exergue:) PORTA S MARIAE | MAIORIS

The Holy Door, with a cross on the brickwork

Rev.:

FRANC TT S ADRIANI | S R E DIAC CARD | MAIDALCHINVS | APERVIT | ET | CLAVSIT

Inscription, surrounded by a double circle of dots. Between the circles, four castles; between the castles: at the top a fleur de lys, on the two sides a six pointed star, at the bottom a dove holding an olive branch.

Francesco Card. Maidalchini was Cardinal Deacon of the church of S. Adriano from 1647-1653. He presided over the closing of the Holy Door at Santa Maria Maggiore at Christmas, 1650. His prominence was not due to his age (29) or his accomplishments (he was not yet a priest), but to the fact that his aunt, Olimpia Maidachini was 'confidante' of Pope Innocent X.

	AE 36 mm Obv.: INNOCENTIVS • X • PONT • MAX • (beneath the bust) AN • VIII • G • M • Bust of the Pope, facing left, wearing the camauro and mozzetta
	Rev.: ABLVTO AQVA VIRGINE \| AGONALIVM CRVORE The Fountain with obelisk in the Piazza Navona (Fountain of the Rivers, by Bernini), Palazzo Pamfilj at right. Sculptor: Gasparo Mola Mazio, #242. Spink, 1127-1128.

The reverse type was also used for Year 5 (Spink 1096-1098) and Year 6 (Spink 1105).
This specimen is a later restrike.

Gerardi, Antonio, Roma festeggiante per la elettione del nuovo Pontefice Nostro Signore Innocenzo X, romano, eletto il 15 Sett. 1644. Descritta da Antonio Gerardi, Romano, Registratore di Bolle della Santità Sua (Roma: appresso Lodovico Grinani 1644) [ non vidi ] Compita relatione del sontuoso apparato, festa, cavalcata et cerimonie fatta in Roma a' di 23 Novembre 1644 nel pigliare il possesso la Sta di N. S. Innocentio X alla sua chiesa Laterense, etc. (Roma: Mascardi MDCXLIV) [ non vidi ]

January 17, 2010 12:45 PM

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

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