PAPAL STATES, Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, [1856], yr XI, a silver medal by I. Bianchi, bust of Pius IX left, rev. Pope standing in the Basilica di S. Giovanni in Laterano, reading Doctrine of Immaculate Conception to audience; above in clouds, Virgin and four angels, 44mm, 35.00g (Mazio 704; Rinaldi 50). Nearly extremely fine £100-£120

The medal commemorates the announcement of the Doctrine on 8 December 1854. Although the Pope would normally be seated for such ceremonies, Pius was forced to stand up because, unexpectedly, a ray of sunlight shone in his face. It was a cloudy winter’s day in Rome so the appearance of the sunbeam was interpreted as a heavenly confirmation of the dogma