Need some help identifying a pendant

[RickyP]

I found this pendant last weekend and just now getting around to posting it. I have no idea what kind it is. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Here's a little info about it. It has a bust of someone on one side of it, and a cross on the other. On the side with the cross are the letters "MA" that are overlayed on top of each other. Also at the top, left side of the cross is a pair of keys that are crossed. There is some words at the bottom of the cross, but I cant make them out.

Thanks for looking

 

[elle]

Hi...the crossed keys symbolize the keys to Heaven and St. Peter (St. Peter's keys), and also symbolizes Papacy.
Perhaps the person on the one side is a Pope?
What an interesting piece!

P.S. The "M.A." may stand for a latin abbreviation for "Mary Mother of All" but not confident
in this answer because the image presented on that one side does not look like Mother Mary.

 

[elle]

Maybe this is a possible answer:

"The Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a special devotion of each Pope is commonly displayed on the back of Papal medals as well. Here is a short list of Pontiffs along with the image of the Virgin Mary with which they are associated...
PIUS XII (1939-1958) Maria Assumpta."

The "M and A" could mean the medal is associated with Pope Pius XII.

 

[elle]

Tell me something funny, please?
I want to laugh alittle tonight!

 

[lamar]

Dear RickyP;
Our esteemed associate, Elle is 100% correct in her announcement that the crossed keys symbolize the Papal See. The crossed keys, most often represented as a gold key and a silver key, represent the twin kingdoms of Heaven and Earth. Jesus spoke to St. Peter and stated:
et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum et quodcumque ligaveris super terram erit ligatum in caelis et quodcumque solveris super terram erit solutum in caelisMatt.16-19
Translated:
And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. Matt. 16-19

In stating this to St. Peter, Jesus established the twin kingdoms of Heaven and Earth and thus the golden key represents the eternal kingdom of Heaven and the silver, the temporal kingdom of Earth.

Also, please note that the crossed keys are part and parcel of the ancient Roman Catholic symbolisim associated with ecclesiastical heraldry and as such, are reserved strictly for use of the presiding Pope, therefore a Cardinal or Bishop can not use the crossed keys as part of their heraldic coat of arms or as a part of a representation.

Please note that our Lady, the Virgin Mary, always has Her venerated name abbreviated merely as M. therefore the statement issued by Elle that M.A. might represent Maria Assumpta is highly likely.

Taking these rules into consideration, we can now determine that the person depicted on the medal is a Pope. And so, the only question is WHICH Pope? To assist in resolving the mystery, I should like to remind everyone that the facial depiction on the medallion is somewhat clear, so this should assist us in our answer.

Also, as a hint, I would like to remind everyone that the Vatican City is a Papal STATE. And all states issue one item, which should be of help in identifying the mystery Pope.
Your friend;
LAMAR

 

[elle]

Lamar...the symbol of the State of the Vatican City...crossed keys...and the Vatican consisting of St. Peter's Basilica!
The first Pope...it is Saint Peter on the front.
Is that correct?

 

[lamar]

Dear Rando;
The galero is typically used to signify a clergy members rank with the hierarchy as an organizational device, yet seldom as a personal one. Most modern day Popes are not displayed wearing crowns, rather they are most typically depicted as wearing a skull cap.

Also, the Vatican is a governmental state and as such it issues it's own coinage. If one were to look for a comparison image of the mystery medal, then one might look at the Papal coins, which are legal tender. As such, the Vatican mint is currently stamping Vatican Euro coins.
Your friend;
LAMAR

 

[lamar]

My dearest Elle;
The Roman Catholic church was founded by St. Simon Peter, the very same apostle that Jesus spoke with and commanded. And so, the Roman Catholic Church, and also the Eastern Orthodox Church, of which was at one time a part of the Roman Catholic Church, proclaim St. Peter as the first Pope and he served from 32 A.D. until 67 A.D. He was preceeded in death by St. Linus who presided from 67 A.D. until 76 A.D.

St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is the largest Christian church in the world and is able to seat 60,000 worshippers. It is said that the tomb of St. Peter lies directly below the main altar. St. Peter's Basilica is one of four Basilicas located within the boundaries of the city of Rome, and contrary to popular belief, it is neither a Cathedral nor the seat of the Pope or Bishoporic, nor is is listed in the first rank of Roman Basilicas, however due to it's assocation with the Apostle and founder of the Roman Catholic Church, Apostle St. Peter, in reality it is the most widely used Basilica by the office of the Papal See.

And the person depicted on the front of the Papal medal is not St. Peter, as there does not exist a clear depiction of what St. Peter looked like. Rather, the person depicted on the front of the medal in question is a much later Pope.
Your friend;
LAMAR

 

[elle]

He does look like Pope Pius XII...yes...there is a resemblance...

 

[lamar]

My dearest Elle;
Yes, you've solved the mystery, m'lady. The person depicted on the medal is indeed Pope Pius XII. Perhaps if our friend, RickyP would be kind to provide a rubbing of the medal, using either black charcoal or even crayon, it might serve to bring out more details as far as the lettering is concerned.
Your friend;
LAMAR

 

[elle]

Thank you Lamar...you made my day!

 

[lamar]

My dearest Elle;
As always, it is my most profound pleasure and honor to be of some small assistance.
Your friend;
LAMAR

 

[RickyP]

Thanks everyone for all your input, that was a lot of great information . I'm not real sure about PP XII, but it looks an awful lot like Pope Leo XIII to me. Oh well, the world may never know.

Thanks again
RickyP

 

[elle]

Rando...everyone appreciated your input. That's what a forum is...everyone contributes so we can all
brainstorm ideas. I read what you said...and yes...you made some good points. When it comes to history
no one is ever right...because we weren't there .
Unless the picture on that pendant is ever revealed or the words pronounce a name...no theory is ever 100% correct.
Your idea that it may be a bishop or cardinal...well...ya never know...maybe it is...
I was just trying to help as I would like people to speculate on the objects I find metal detecting.

 

[RickyP]

Thanks everyone for all your input, that was a lot of great information . I'm not real sure about PP XII, but it looks an awful lot like Pope Leo XIII to me. Oh well, the world may never know.

Thanks again
RickyP

Well, we all know that I do not, don't we?

I'll just keep my opinions to my self from here on out, wouldn't want to intrude on your group.

And what would a priest know of such things?

SO YOUNG, SO ANGRY. DAMN THAT RAP MUSIC

 

[lamar]

Dear Rando;
The clincher that the medal is in honor of a Pope is because of the crossed Papal keys. That symbol is reserved strictly for the Popes and no other clergy member is permitted to use the crossed Papal keys symbol in relation to themselves or as a part of their heraldic device. Only when it's a Pope or directly from the Papal Office, will we find the crossed Papal keys displayed as part of a Roman Catholic emblem.

Once it's been narrowed down that the person on the medal represents a Papal figure, then it's a matter of of discovering whom among the recent Popes used the abbreviation M-A as part of their personal credo, and in this case it's Pope Pius XII who used the motto Maria Assumpta as His personal credo.

There is no need to apologize nor feel badly, my friend, for we are ALL students and as such we must always be prepared to learn new things. As I age I often find myself learning more, instead of the opposite which I had assumed in my youth, that as I grew older I'd need to learn less. If it wasn't for your contribution, the learning process would have halted and the end result would have been less enlightening.

Thank you for your contributions and I look forward to reading your future thoughts and opinions.
Your friend;
LAMAR

 

[Juanmoretime]

Most everything that has been found at this site where RickyP found this medal has been dated to around 1800. Who was the pope around that time and you might have your answer!

Steve

 

[taybai]

Popes around that time period:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm

Clement XIII (1758-69)
Clement XIV (1769-74)
Pius VI (1775-99)
Pius VII (1800-23)
Leo XII (1823-29)
Pius VIII (1829-30)
Gregory XVI (1831-46)
Blessed Pius IX (1846-78)
Leo XIII (1878-1903)
St. Pius X (1903-14)
Benedict XV (1914-22)