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Message:: [QUOTE="Drusus, post: 422419, member: 6370"]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.... <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]

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