The Royal Mint has issued a medal to mark Pope Benedict XVI’s first visit to the U.K. Sept. 16-19.The limited edition medal, designed by the Royal Mint’s Gordon Summers, is available in gold, silver and base metal.
Pope Benedict XVI’s appearance marks the first papal visit to the U.K. since 1982.
“Pope Benedict XVI’s visit is a historical event of significance,” said Dave Knight, director of commemorative coins at the Royal Mint.”
"This is the first papal visit in many people’s lives and it is an incredibly important occasion for them.
Therefore, the Royal Mint wanted to commemorate this momentous event by creating the official medal, which is a fitting way to mark his arrival.”
The medal’s obverse displays the official Papal Visit logo with the crossed keys of heaven and earth along with the year of the visit, 2010.
The reverse features a depiction of Pope Benedict XVI with a cross in the background.
The nickel-brass version measures 38.45 mm in diameter, weighs 28.28 grams and has a mintage of 50,000.
The silver version also is 38.45 mm in diameter and weighs 28.28 grams.
Its mintage is set at 6,000.
The gold medal has a diameter of 28.40 mm and a weight of 15.876 grams.
Its mintage is limited to 750.
SIC: WCN/INT'L