ANTIQUE 18TH CENTURY ST. BARBARA & CATHOLIC IMMACULATE CONCEPTION BRONZE MEDAL
Item History & Price
This medal is 2 inches long and weighs 25 grams ofbronze.The Spanish word "santabárbara", thecorresponding Italian word Santa Barbara, and the obsolete French Sainte-Barbesignify the powder magazine of a ship or fortress. It was customary to have astatue of Saint Barbara at the magazine to protect the ship or fortress fromsuddenly exploding. Even today Saint Barbara is the patron saint ofartillerymen, military engineers, gunsmiths, miners, and anyone else who workswith cannon and expl...osives. Saint Barbara's intersession is invoked againstthunder and lightning, accidents arising from explosions of gunpowder, and sheis venerated by Catholics who face the danger of sudden and violent death in work.This medals dating can be confirmed on pages 2 & 3 ofthe book AN INTRODUCTION TO RELIGIOUS MEDALS, by Bob Forrest, and published byNUMISMATICA INTERNATIONAL in 2004.In addition, this book has chapters (outlined in thetable of contents), describing each of the categories of medals, their possibleplace of pilgrimage (acquisition), and origin of the mint where they were made.We recommend that anyone serious about collecting medals from this period, acquire a copy of this book.Thanks for your kind support of our work!
