I brought a hord of coins and after cleaning a few nice one did surface but what caught my eye was this Scala Santa token they gave to the holy shrine visators,I'm not sure what is the obverse or reverse so I'll just post the images hope you like regards Harry
I think the hord that it was found with was a Claudius II Gothicus hord but I cant be sure as It had a lot of crud on it and came out of the soak about 18 month later,and yes it is a stairway with a seated figure at the end the other side is people bowing at a doorway,regards Harry
Got to admit that coin doesnt look ancient to me. Have you seen this type of coin before? Maybe seen it for sale anywhere? I have never seen the type. Just wondering.
G'Day Drusus this is a token (not a coin) give to Noblemen visiting the Scala Santa shrine from the priest's as a keep sake,It's AE 4 size regards Harry Oh and P.S. It took me 2 years to find out about it and yes there are other tokens like this around also there was 600 to 700 years of crud on this token and I'll post a photo of one of the coins that I think this was found with.
are you able to link me to information regarding the Scala Santa token? Or another example (preferably)? It doesnt look ancient to me but that doesnt mean anything...I would just like to see even one other example...Coin Archives doesnt have any examples nor does any other place that deals or catalogs ancients that I frequent. I am aware of Scala Santa and its history...I am just curious and would like to see other examples of this token if there are any. Dont only can I not find other examples in the usual places, I cant find anything even discussing this token.
I also had the same trouble finding out what it was also posted it on FORUM then a friend from another coin site gave me the information on this token,you will find the information at coinman.proboards82.com go into coin talk page 2 near the bottom is Roman coins go into page 3 arrow down the page till you see this token and read the next reply it will tell you about this token regards Harry sorry P.S.there isn't any way to pin a date on this token as It's a hopless cause
Hmmm...well, if it is authentic then it must be very very rare as nobody seems to have any real info on it and there doesnt seem to even be another example to be found.
Dru I think It's one of thoughs tokens they talk about digging up at Scala Santa itself but from a coin hord ? anyway I did spend 18 months cleaning the token as the crud was so thick on it I never thought I would get it clean regards Harry
If I were you, and this is just what I would do, I would contact the British Museum or someone like David Sears and have them take a look at it, see if they can shed more light on it...I wouldnt be able to be happy until I learned all I could about it.
I realy thought it didn't warrent that much of a fuss but you might be right mate I'll just have to get off my A and do something about it oh and I put it away with several hundred coins so it some where in there in a 2X2 thank Dru I'll keep you informed regards Harry
G'Day Ardatirion the only other reference to this is in the Catholic Encyclopedia I've been told and non other and yes it is an enigma,I've had the coin about four and a half years now came out of the soak tree years ago and it is still a fascination for me to this day that's the reason I did post the coin regards Harry Oh and P.S. I think this is refered to as a Papal medallion ?
I have read the entry regarding Devotional Medals but these are not mentioned. I have, in fact, seen no reference to this. The Catholic Encyclopedia discusses the many kinds of devotional medals through time. The passage that mentions the Scala Santa goes: "Certain it is that Sixtus V attached indulgences to some ancient coins discovered in the foundations of the buildings at the Scala Santa, which coins he caused to be richly mounted and sent to persons of distinction." Sixtus V was pope from 1521 to 1590. What I get from this is he found ancient coins in the foundations of the Scala Santa, an ancient structure regardless of where it was built, when he was renovating. It is known when he did this as he also moved the stairs to where they are now during the process. He then sent coins to important people as special gifts. This does not mention what type of ancient coins these were nor does it mention what is on the coins. It simply says they were found and given out. Maybe this info is known but not mentioned. Now it is not known WHEN these stair cases were built. It is not known if these were a part of the stair cases of the Praetorium of Pontius Pilate. Nor is it known if they were brought to Rome by the Mother of Constantine like the legend states. It IS known that they were a part of the Lateran Palace, an ancient palace and former residence of the pope. They were transferred to their present site in the late 1500's. It is not known exactly WHEN these stairs became known as Scala Pilati but it was most likely around the middle ages. Before that they were simply the stairs to the Sancta Sanctorum. The story, that might have basis in fact, is that these steps were brought to Rome by Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, around 325 when she travel to Jerusalem and supposedly found about every thing having to do with the crucifixion of Jesus, the true cross, nails used to crucify Christ, etc...She did go there, this is known. This story states that at this time, she also found the stairs to Pilates headquarters, and brought them back to Rome and attached them to the palace. This coin was found with coins of Claudius II (Gothicus) whose rule ended in 270. Its not far fetched to believe a token minted 50 years (or more) after the Gothicus coin could be found together...coins are often found close together that span many decades or even centuries. Now what the Catholic encyclopedia (devotional medals section) DOES say is that while it is known that in the early days of Christianity, people made and/or wore devotional objects of various forms, some that might have been cast, there are very few surviving specimens of such things thought to be authentic. They are rare and the encyclopedia even states that: It was at one time doubted whether anything in the nature of a purely devotional medal was known in the early ages of Christianity. Certain objects of this kind were described and figured by seventeenth-century writers on the Catacombs, and a few such were preserved in museums. All these; however, were regarded with much suspicion. So they are so rare that at one time they doubted that early Christian themed objects much like this one even existed. It goes on to say that now there are some known but still very rare up until the middle ages. The encyclopedia states: little evidence exists of the use of medals in the Middle Ages. No traces of such objects survive remarkable either for artistic skill or for the value of the metal, and to speak positively of the date of certain objects of lead and pewter which may have been hung round the neck, with a religious intent, is not always easy. But in the course of the twelfth century, if not earlier, a very general practice grew tip at well-known places of pilgrimage, of casting tokens in lead, and sometimes probably in other metals, which served the pilgrim as a souvenir and stimulus to devotion and at the same time attested the fact that he had duly reached his destination. So sometime around the 12th century people began to make these devotional pilgrimages to holy sites, started making souvenirs, medals, tokens, medallions, etc... This place is still a place people make pilgrimages to year after year. There are many souvenir shops, including the one at the top of the stairs, selling things to remind the visitor of the trip and to reinforce the legend. All places like this will spawn such things. Things sold around these places either are what they are, honest souvenirs. Or as many people find out all the time, they are made to deceive...like the fake ancient coins sold around the old forum in Rome. There are two possibilities concerning this token. It is what it is...a token minted to be given to pilgrims...or a token made to deceive. If it is a token that is what it is, then it is a type of honest souvenir for pilgrims. The question then is when. If it is something that is contemporary with Constantine (late roman imperial) then it would be an extremely rare thing. 12th century and beyond, hundreds of years, they have probably been making souvenirs concerning this destination. Jetons were later produced in large numbers, many of them with religious themes, many emulating (or trying to emulate) ancient imagery and style. Just the other day we saw a jeton with a minerva theme that someone thought was ancient. So you see why I find this a bit interesting. Someone can correct me if I am wrong but if this is from ancient Rome, its a rare thing. It tend to think this isnt that old...a later, honest souvenir....
WoW thanks Drusus I almost fell of my chair mate fantastic job you did in such short notice and now all I have to do is have this token authenticated which I think will be very hard to do,this must have been a challenge for you so thanks for the hard work mate regards Harry
I really must learn to start evaluating things more objectively - there was a ridiculously obvious piece of data staring us right in the face the whole time. The obverse legend, SCALA SANTA, is in Italian, not Latin. Were it Latin, it would read SCALAE SANCTAE. Therefore, this cannot be an ancient token. Beyond that, I should have noticed that both the style of the staircase and of the kneeling figures on the reverse is far removed from the plebian style that would have been seen on a 3rd-5th century AD token. Judging by the artistic interpretations, I would place this token during the Renaissance or later. You must get a better image of the reverse, particularly of the legend.
Thanks Ardatirion that's a very good observation mate and the bits of the puzzel are finaly comming together I think that hord that I brought must have been a mixed bag I thank you for the time and effort you and Dru have spent on this token,I'm buying a new camera next weekend and hope to post some better photo's of the token by the weekend (the other camera died when I dropped it on the concrete)thanks again regards Harry
Good point Ardatirion...I didnt even think of latin/italian though the style was the very first thing that made me think it was not ancient.
Okay, I sent the images of this to the British Museum as I have with a few other unidentified coins and medals I had. This was the answer they sent back: Dear **** The object appears to be: a Roman Catholic religious medallet (it would originally have had a suspension loop at the top). It seems to be 18th century and made at Rome, presumably for Catholic pilgrims visiting Rome during a Jubilee year (it has Jubilee Year in Latin on the back). Best regards Artemis Manolopoulou Duty Curator for more information of the jubilee go to http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08531c.htm I think case closed
