Antique Religious Medal Bronze Pius IX Martyrs of Japan 1862 Canonization Pendant Catholic Vatican 19th Century

A devotional medal in bronze, softened by time, engraved with a striking crucifixion scene and the profile of Pope Pius IX. Struck to mark the canonization of the 26 Martyrs of Japan in 1862, it carries nearly two centuries of religious history and Catholic devotion within it. A rare piece, dense with meaning, for anyone drawn to objects of faith steeped in history.

Type: Devotional medal / antique religious pendant
Period: 19th century, 1862
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 36 mm total height (including bail) x 26.7 mm width — approximately 1.42 x 1.05 inches
Origin: Rome, Italy (Vatican)
Condition: good vintage condition, natural period patina

The obverse reveals a finely modeled crucifixion scene depicting Pedro Bautista and his twenty-two companions, encircled by the Latin legend "S.S. PETRUS BAPTISTA ET ALII 22 SOCII MARTYRES IN JAPONIA ANNO 1597." The relief is crisp, the figures clearly defined, the composition dense yet legible despite the medal's small size. The reverse shows Pope Pius IX in profile, wearing pontifical dress, with the legend "PIUS IX PONT. MAX. ELECTUS 16 JUN 1846," the standard formula used on Vatican medals throughout his long pontificate.

This medal commemorates a specific historical event: the canonization of the 26 Martyrs of Japan, crucified in Nagasaki in 1597, celebrated by Pius IX on June 8, 1862, during a pontifical mass in Rome attended by hundreds of bishops and thousands of pilgrims from around the world. Medals of this type were sold or distributed as devotional souvenirs of the ceremony, making this piece a direct witness to that moment in the history of the Catholic Church.

Worn as a pendant on a fine chain or cord, or simply kept as a collector's piece on display. It sits comfortably in a religious numismatics collection or on a desk or shelf, among antique books and devotional objects.

This medal will appeal to collectors of religious numismatics, lovers of 19th-century sacred art, and Catholics seeking an antique object of faith rich in meaning.

An authentic piece, carefully engraved, that has traveled through time for over 160 years. Rare on the market, it will appeal as much for its historical value as for its deeply symbolic character.

This antique bronze religious medal, dated 1862 and dedicated to the Martyrs of Japan under the pontificate of Pius IX, is an authentic collector's piece for anyone who loves sacred art, Vatican numismatics, or antique Catholic jewelry.

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