This is a Joannes Pavlus (John Paul) II Pont Max. token or coin. I believe it could be .500 silver, may have been issued by the Vatican. I got it at a bid board auction a few months ago as part of a lot. Sorry the lighting is pretty rough, seems like the Iphone does best with natural light. Any info on it? How are Vatican coins used? What is the official name? What is on the reverse? Mintage? THANKS!
Dunno about anything else, but the Vatican is amazing in person! It is so massive... you can't believe it until you see it!
I'm not Catholic either... I was utterly shocked by the size... And the amount of very cool artifacts in the museum is crazy... I mean, they even have Nero's bathtub (not joking) It was the second most amazing thing on my Rome trip... The most amazing being going to the Colosseum's lowest layer, where the gladiators would have waited!
It appears to be a souvenir token to me. There is not a denomination noted on the piece, and it doesn't match any Vatican issued coin from the JP2 era. I would doubt that it is silver -- but could you provide the diameter in mm and the weight in grams? It's easier to identify items with their weight and diameter specs.
Weeell, there are undated coins of course but not from the Vatican City State. That is a medal; on the side with the portrait there is something close to the edge, between 4 and 5 o'clock, that could be a designer's name, not sure. Also, on the side with Piazza San Pietro (roughly between 6 and 7 o'clock) there is something that I cannot read, followed by, hmm, "Italy"? Christian
I'm thinking it says "Italy" on both sides, I'll take another look at it tonight. I found something comparable on ebay, though theirs is much more rough. They have it listed as "Pope John Paul II Vatican City Medal." I wouldn't bid on this, it is listed from Philippines: http://www.ebay.com/itm/POPE-JOHN-PAUL-II-Vatican-City-Medal-/190395759274
Oh yeah! :thumb: You can find hundreds of them in the market stalls around St. Peter's Square in Rome. It's not an official issue, nor of Vatican, nor of Italy, it's a private production and, I think, it's not silver, but an alloy called "alpacca" or "German silver" (copper, zinc, nickel). Very cheap value petronius
