Popes on Coins

An American-born cardinal, Robert Francis Prevost, has been selected to lead the Catholic Church, which has a substantial numismatic legacy in addition to its influence in the world of religion. Let's take a look at some of the fascinating coins and medals relating to popes over the centuries.

Vatican 1889 XII Gold San Giovanni Monastery Medal, NGC MS 62 PL

The new pope has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, prompting people to look at previous pope's named Leo for any hints about why he chose that name. Pope Leo I is famous for persuading Attila the Hun to abandon his invasion of Italy, while Pope Leo XIII is known as an intellectual who charted a modern course for the church as the first pontiff following the end of the Papal States era. This medal showing Leo XIII was issued about halfway through his papacy. It realized $5,040 at a Heritage Auctions sale in January 2024.

Italy (1513-21) Papal States 2.5 Ducati, NGC MS 62, Newman pedigree

Another pope to hold the name Leo was Leo X, who issued this early Renaissance Papal States gold coin. It shows the Magi on the reverse. His 8-year papacy was marked by his support of the arts and rebuilding of St. Peter's Basilica even as Martin Luther's 95 Theses sparked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. This coin realized $44,062 at a Heritage auctions sale in January 2014.

Italy (1534-49) Papal States 2 Fiorni di Camera, NGC MS 61, Newman pedigree

Pope Paul III was elected in 1534, a time of great tumult for the Catholic Church, with Rome recovering after being sacked by troops of the Holy Roman Emperor and the Protestant Reformation spreading with Henry VIII's decision to create the Church of England. Paul III's papacy saw the beginning of the Counter-Reformation and patronage of artists such as Michelangelo. This coin realized $52,875 at a Heritage Auctions sale in January 2014.

Vatican 1662-dated Gold Alexander VII Medal, NGC AU Details, Paramount Collection pedigree

Pope Alexander VII, shown on this medal wearing a papal tiara, was pontiff from 1655 to 1667. He worked closely with architect and sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini to redesign St. Peter's Square, increasing its open space and lining it with colonnades. On the inside of the basilica, Bernini created the St. Peter's Chair sculpture around a relic linked to the St. Peter, which is depicted on the reverse of this medal. It realized $26,400 at a Heritage Auctions sale in March 2021.

Italy 1694 IIII 4 Scudi d'Oro, NGC MS 62+

This coin shows Pope Innocent XII and the Fontana di Santa Maria, a fountain outside the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere, one of the oldest churches in Rome. It is located about a mile south of today's Vatican City, though at the time all of Rome and much of central Italy was ruled by the pope. It realized $34,800 at a Heritage Auctions sale in August 2019.

Italy 1706 VI Papal States 4 Scudi d'Oro, NGC AU 55, Newman pedigree

This coin was issued under Pope Clement XI, whose papacy ran from 1700 until 1721. He was elected due to his strength in diplomacy; nevertheless, the Papal States still lost some of their territory at the conclusion of the War of the Spanish Succession. This coin realized $44,062 at a Heritage Auctions sale in January 2014.

Italy 1724 Papal States Piastra - Sede Vacante, NGC MS 64

Clement XI's papacy was followed by that of Innocent XIII, who was known for his frugality and efforts to fight nepotism. His death in 1724 created the time of transition known as Sede Vacante (empty seat), referred to in the legend on the reserve of this coin. While the most-recent Sede Vacante period was less than three weeks, it often lasted much longer. This coin realized $36,000 at a Heritage Auctions sale in January 2024.

Italy 1787 XII Papal States 10 Zecchini - Bologna, NGC MS 62, Salton Collection pedigree

Bologna was the second-largest of the Papal States cities near the end of the 18th century, and this coin shows St. Petronius, the patron saint of the city. The city fell out of the control of the Papal States for almost 20 years starting with Napoleon's 1796 occupation. It was restored for 35 years until 1860, when Bologna voted to join the new Kingdom of Italy. This coin realized $22,498 in a Stack's Bowers Galleries auction in March 2022.

Vatican 1830 II Gold Pius VIII Medal, NGC MS 63

This medal, issued during Pius XIII's two-year papacy (which ended with his death in late 1830), shows the pontiff on the obverse and Justice and Peace on the reverse. It was issued at a time when revolutionary fervor was sweeping Europe, and the Papal States were not immune. It realized $24,000 at a Heritage Auctions sale in August 2023.

Poland 1989MW Gold 200,000 Zlotych - John Paul II, NGC PF 68 Ultra Cameo

The new pope, Leo XIV, was ordained to the priesthood in 1982, early in the papacy of John Paul II. The first non-Italian pope in centuries, John Paul II was honored by his native Poland with this 200,000 Zlotych in 1989, the year Communist rule ended there. This coin realized $27,600 in a Stack's Bowers auction in January 2020.

Vatican 2015R Euro, NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo

Today, the Vatican issues euro coins, including a series from 2014 to 2016 that shows different effigies of Pope Francis. Coins issued after that show his papal coat of arms because Francis asked that they no longer show him. A new series of coins is expected under Leo XIV.