Expert: Dmitry Livshits - 12/6/2010

Question
QUESTION: It appears to be a Pope Medal.  I believe it is Paul VI.  He is sitting facing West with the Pope hat.  On the West edge reads PAVLVS VI, on the East edge reads PONT. MAX.  Beneath the portrait is the name R.SIGNORINI.

Obverse
Papal shield with keys and crown. On South edge reads IN NOMINE DOMINI.  Above that is a small coffin shaped box with 1  AR in it.  To the right of that is another coffin shaped box with 900 in it.  To the right of that are 2 circles and an eye, in the eye it says UNO A ERR and there is a G in the left circle and a Z in the right circle.

I can not find it anywhere on the internet.  Owner claims it is 1.45 OZ of pure gold.

Please help....

thanks in advance,

Marcus from Maui

ANSWER: Hi Marcus,
The coin is .900 silver, not gold. In old LAtin AR = silver and AV = gold, so AR 900 = .900 purity silver.
The cool thing is that you have an actual silver version of a medallion that is mostly found in silver-colored base metals.
It's worth it's weight in silver (which is around $29 per ounce right now) plus 25% collector value.
Thanks for the question! =)


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks again.  I have seen the medal you are referenceing and it has the pope's hands visible.

This one, no hands.  Additionally the backs are different.

The current owner is convinced it is gold.  I tested it with an electronic tester and it is registering 22K, but perhaps this is just a thick plating.

I do not want to destroy the medal by scratch/acid.

Please see the photos below.  It definitely says 1 AR though....

Answer
Hi again Marcus,
You know what, after seeing the picture, this is actually an official piece, rather than one of the many novelty/souvenir pieces made with a similar design and wording. These were indeed made in gold, and for these medals the "1 AR" is an official designation and not relating to AR as in silver.
Your medal is indeed .900 gold, and also exists with different obverse designs, such as the Madonna and child and a dove design.
Collector value would also be 25% above bullion value.
Thanks again for the question! =)