Innocent XIII (1721-4) Franciscan Congress, Silver

Rare medal in silver for Anno III of Pope Innocent XIII (1721-1724) commemorating the Franciscan Congress of 1723. Obverse: Pope right. Reverse: Innocent XIII, seated on a throne, receives ballots from a Franciscan friar. Mintage of only 315 in silver on the issue date of June 29, 1723.

On the Franciscan Congress, from the website of the Oblates & Missioners of St. Michael: The general chapter of the Observantine Franciscans had not met for twenty-five years. Innocent, to manifest the affection that he bore for that order, commanded the ceremony to be celebrated in the usual form, declaring his desire to preside himself at that ceremony, which took place in church of the Aracoeli, on the 15th of May, 1723. Father [Lorenzo] Cozza was elected there as minister-general, obtaining a hundred and eighty-three votes.