ITALY  "MADONNA"  ~ NGC 62 ~ 

  Description 

PAPAL STATES.  CLEMENT XII  GOLD  ZECCHINO  1739  ~ NGC MS 62 ~ ROME MINT  (FR 222, B 2607, KM 888) WELL STRUCK AND FULLY LUSTROUS, AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE FOR THIS GRADE!

POP CLEMENT XII IS KNOWN FOR BUILDING THE NEW FACADE OF THE BASILICA DI SAN GIOVANNI IN LATERANO, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TREVI FOUNTAIN, AND THE PURCHASE OF CARDINAL ALESSANDRO ALBANTS COLLECTION OF ANTIQUITIES FOR THE PAPAL GALLERY.

THE REVERSE DEPICTS MADONNA AS THE HOLY MOTHER OF THE CHURCH.  "MOTHER OF THE CHURCH" IS A TITLE, OFFICIALLY GIVEN TO MARY DURING THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL BY POPE PAUL VI AND POPE BENEDICT XIV IN 1748, THE TITLE WAS FIRST USED IN THE 4TH CENTURY BY SAINT AMBROSE OF MILAN, AS REDISCOVERED BY HUGO RAHNER. POPE JOHN PAUL II STATED THAT OVERALL THE TITLE INDICATES THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY'S MATERNITY OF CHRIST'S FAITHFUL, AS DERIVING FROM HER MATERNITY OF CHRIST IN THAT "MARY IS PRESENT IN THE CHURCH AS THE MOTHER OF CHRIST, AND THE SAME TIME AS THAT MOTHER WHOM CHRIST, IN THE MYSTERY OF REDEMPTION, GAVE THE HUMANITY IN THE PERSON OF THE APOSTLE JOHN, THEREFORE, IN HER NEW MOTHERHOOD IN THE SPIRIT, MARY EMBRACES EACH AND EVERY ONE IN THE CHURCH AND EMBRACES EACH AND EVERY ONE THROUGH THE CHURCH.