5 Euros - Franciscus Pope Benedict XV

Reverse

Bust of praying Benedict XV left

Script: Latin

Lettering:
•CITTA´ DEL VATICANO • CINQUE EURO
R
1914 • 1922
LA GUERRA, UN’ INUTILE STRAGE

Engraver: Marta Bonifacio

Designer: Patrizio Daniele

Edge

Discontinuous milled poligonal edge

Comment

The Vatican State Mint is dedicating the five Euro bimetallic coin to the centenary of the death of Pope Benedict XV. Giacomo della Chiesa was born in Genoa in 1854 and was elected Pope in 1914, just three months after he was made a cardinal. He became Pope shortly after the start of the First World War. During much of his almost eight-year pontificate he made numerous impassioned appeals for an end to the war. On the reverse side of the coin artist Patrizio Daniele has depicted Benedict XV in profile with his hands joined in prayer and the words: “war, a useless slaughter.” The phrase is taken from a letter written by the Pope in 1917 sent “to the belligerent powers” with the Pope inviting them to reflect on their grave responsibilities before God and humanity. He wrote many letters and exhorted them to end the war, but his appeals went unheeded. He also turned his attention to improving care for the wounded and the many prisoners of war, and to helping the civilian populations most affected by the war.

Interesting fact

Price

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
2022 R	4300	-	-	-	-	-	-

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 5 Euros - Franciscus (Pope Benedict XV) 2022 coin.