What's the number of scripophily collectors in the Vatican City? I wonder. According to the outcome of an earlier exercise on estimating the number of collectors, see here, I estimate that number at zero collectors .. on a population of less than 1000 people.
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| emblem of the Vatican detail from the share below |
Papal scripophily
Modern bonds have been issued by the Papal States since the early 1800s. Many of those certificates bear the emblem of the Papacy. Rather puzzling are share certificates printed with such an emblem. The emblem shown above is such an example. Why does this emblem appear on a share of a French fishing company ?
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| Pêcheries de la Morinie English: Fisheries of Morinie share of 1000 Francs, Boulogne-Sur-Mer, 1934 double-click to enlarge |
Tiara and Keys
The emblem on the share depicts the Papal tiara and the keys of Saint Peter. Both are used as external ornaments in the coat of arms of the Vatican. Often the keys are shown in gold and silver. Both represent heaven (gold) and earth (silver) and are in the hands of the pope.
Sede vacante
There is a variant of the emblem, using an umbraculum, an "umbrella", instead of the tiara. That version is applied between the reigns of two popes. After the death or resignation of a pope, the Holy See enters a period of sede vacante, or freely translated "vacant seat".
Nominative annual perpetuity of 102 scudi and 64 baiocchi, dated 1829.
The certificate was printed with the emblem sede vacante.
double-click to enlarge image
Source: Titoli Azionari Antichi - V Edizione
by Alex Witula, Portafoglio Storico
The papal emblems can also be found on stamps, notes and coins, even the sede vacante variant.
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| Scudo, 1846 , sede vacante Cardinal Tommaso Riario-Sforza source: Classical Numismatic Group |
