Religious Medal, Catholic Church, 32mm – 1500s to 1700s – Spanish Empire Limited Edition Online

Includes glass top display box. Can be strung as pendant.

These bronze religious medals showcase figures from Catholicism, including Jesus, the Virgin Mary, angels, and numerous saints. They date from the late Renaissance in the 16th century to the end of the early modern period in the 18th century.

Also known as “devotional medals,” these religious items trace their roots to the ancient pre-Christian tradition of wearing amulets and talismans. These evolved into jetons in the Middle Ages, which were coin like tokens inscribed with religious designs. Devotional medals as they are known today first developed in the late 1300s, but only gained widespread popularity in the 1500s once large scale production made them accessible to the masses.

These medals were discovered in Spain, and the encrustations on several indicate they might have been buried. However, such medals were prevalent throughout Europe and their inscriptions are primarily in Latin, so pinpointing their exact nation of origin is challenging. They were not only popular in Spain but also widely circulated in neighboring countries like France and Italy as well.

All items include a Certificate of Authenticity.