June 12, 2014 – On 26th March 2014, Taya Pobjoy, Managing Director of Pobjoy Mint, visited the Vatican City and was honoured to present a coin to His Holiness Pope Francis celebrating his accession. The coin, which was presented just after the First Anniversary of his Election, was issued by the Central Bank of the Seychelles and produced by Pobjoy Mint.
Taya feels very lucky to have been allowed to meet His Holiness on such a special occasion.
Pope Francis appeared both pleased and interested to view this special new coin which features a Cameo of himself surrounded by a rosary and images of the 14 Stations of the Cross which appear in every Catholic Church in the World and which tell the story of Christ’s Condemnation by Pontius Pilate, his Crucifixion and death.
The Seychelles, a predominantly Catholic Country, had been visited by Pope John Paul II in 1986 and will shorting be issuing a new coin to celebrate the Canonization of Pope John Paul II on 27th April 2014 when he will become Patron Saint of World Youth Day.
Seychelles/ 25 Rupees/ Silver 925/ 28.28 g/ 38.6 mm/ Mintage: 10,000.
On 11th February 2013, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, the 265th Pope announced his resignation explaining he had a ‘lack of strength of mind and body’ due to his advanced age, and his resignation became effective on 28th February 2013. He will continue to hold the style of His Holiness and the title Pope but will play no further part in the official duties of the Catholic Church.
On 12th March 2013, 115 eligible Cardinals entered into Conclave to elect Pope Benedict’s successor and after five ballots white smoke appeared from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel to indicate that the minimum two thirds majority had been reached on the following day and an announcement was made from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica that the new Pope would be Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Archbishop Bergoglio has taken the name Pope Francis (the first Pope to take that name) in memory of St. Francis of Assisi. This is only one of a number of firsts as His Holiness Pope Francis is the first Jesuit as well as the first Latin American to be elected Pope and he is in fact the first non-European Pope to be elected since Gregory III in 731 A.D.
Pobjoy Mint released a new coin being produced on behalf of the Central Bank of Seychelles to celebrate the election of His Holiness Pope Francis. The design shows a portrait of His Holiness the Pope with the surrounding wording “Habemus Papam” the Latin phrase which translates as “we have a Pope” and then “Pontifex Maximus (his non official title, but this phrase refers to the Pope as the Catholic Church’s Chief Bishop) Franciscum I”.
The portrait is surrounded by the fourteen Stations of the Cross, a popular Catholic devotion to indicate the passion and death of Jesus Christ, and an illustration of rosary beads “used whilst undertaking the Stations” separating the Stations and the internal portrait. Not only is this a very relevant design central to the practices of the Catholic Church, but is very apt as the Conclave and the election took place so near to Easter.
The Republic of Seychelles, an island paradise set in the Indian Ocean, is predominantly Catholic and has issued coins in the past depicting both His Holiness Pope John Paul II (who visited the Seychelles in 1986) and His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI upon his election. This design will be produced in a range of metals and sizes including Unc. Cupro Nickel, Sterling and Fine Proof Silver both plain and Goldclad® and all precious metal versions will be struck in the highest Proof quality for which the Pobjoy Mint is renowned.
Specification
| Metal | Face Value | Weight | Diameter | Issue Limit |
| Unc. Cupro Nickel | 5 Rupees | 28.28gms | 38.60mm | 50,000 |
| Proof Sterling Silver | 10 Rupees | 12.00gms | 38.60mm | 10,000 |
| Proof Sterling Silver | 25 Rupees | 28.28gms | 38.60mm | 10,000 |
For more information about the coin visit the Pobjoy Mint online.
The election of Pope Francis has caused many other mints to design coins about this historic event.
… Coin Invest Trust issued a whole series about the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the election of Pope Francis.
… and Palau celebrated the new Pope with the issue of a gold coin dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi.