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The Spanish word "Santa Barbara", the corresponding Italian word Santa Barbara, and the obsolete French Sainte-Barbe signify the powder magazine of a ship or fortress. It was customary to have a statue of Saint Barbara at the magazine to protect the ship or fortress from suddenly exploding. Even today Saint Barbara is the patron saint of artillerymen, military engineers, gunsmiths, miners, and anyone else who works with cannon and explosives. Saint Barbara's intersession is invoked against thunder and lightning, accidents arising from explosions of gunpowder, and she is venerated by Catholics who face the danger of sudden and violent death in work.

This medal is 2 inches long and weighs 25 grams of bronze. It is an original medal from my late mother's vast estate collection of Catholic Medals (Bertha; the founder of Church-Woman Antiques).

This medals dating can be confirmed on pages 2 & 3 of the book AN INTRODUCTION TO RELIGIOUS MEDALS, by Bob Forrest, and published by NUMISMATICA INTERNATIONAL in 2004.In addition, this book has chapters (outlined in the table of contents), describing each of the categories of medals, their possible place of pilgrimage (acquisition), and origin of the mint where they were made. We recommend that anyone serious about collecting medals from this period acquire a copy of this book.

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