Any ideas on this? Looks to be silver but seems to be slightly too small (35 1/2 mm) for a 1 oz round. The edge is reeded. My scale is kaplooie so I can't weigh it.
I don't know anything about the origin of this medal, but see if it clings to a magnet. If it does, then it isn't silver. Chris
I don't know much either to classify it, perhaps a souvenir token/medal for tourists or pilgrims to the Vatican. Have a look at eBay for others, with other Popes and this one with the same Pope but a different design on the other side. Obviously your piece has the Pope Paul VI (PAVLVS VI) on one side and an image of Michelangelo's Pietà which is a world famous sculpture located inside St. Peter's Basilica. Maybe some further info here.
Thanks for that help. My medal has the same obverse but a different reverse. My medal is the same size. I suspect that these medals are part of some set. If the one listed is in fact silver, and mine looks silver, then I suspect that mine is silver. Ebay here it comes!!!
does it *ring* when you tap it? silver has a nice and audibly-identifiable tone when you flip it or strike the coin. (gently - don't damage it!)
Hehe, such things happen. Just yesterday I posted a link to French medals forum here http://www.cointalk.com/t139431/ (see msg #3), and three to four hours later (#6) somebody else posted pretty much the same link. As for whether this piece is silver, some medals indicate the silver content in tiny digits ("835", "925", etc.), and there is "something" on the pope's cloak (near the S of MAXIMVS). Could be a number, could be a signature, could be something else that I cannot read ... Christian
