Medal Metals: Bronze, Silver, and Gold

The Olympics are here again! For the next two weeks, 2,952 athletes from around the world will compete for bronze, silver, and gold medals in 102 events in 15 disciplines such as curling, figure skating, and ski jumping.

Olympians have been receiving medals since the first modern Olympics in 1896, but the bronze, silver, and gold tradition started in 1904. The top competitors in the ancient Olympic games received an olive wreath. 

Thinking about the different medal metals made us wonder what we had in the archives made of the three. Turns out there were some interesting finds!

Let's start with third place bronze. 

This cross and chain came from the estate of Cardinal Carter. Not too much is known about it other than the fact that it has been corroding. We hope that storage in a climate-controlled environment will mitigate the damage!

AF379
ARCAT Artifacts Collection

This bronze statue was given to Cardinal Carter by the Caritas Family Association in 1995.Unfortunately the piece does not have an artist's name or mark.

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ARCAT Artifacts Collection

This statue is also from the Cardinal Carter estate.

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ARCAT Artifacts Collection

This figure of the crucified Christ is another from the Cardinal Carter estate. Perhaps he was fond of bronze!

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ARCAT Artifacts Collection

And for something completely different, this is a bronze printer's plate of a photo of Bishop Allen.

[1954-1977]

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ARCAT Artifacts Collection

Now for second-place silver:

Two silver trowels presented to Cardinal McGuigan for laying cornerstones for St. Joseph's High School in Etobicoke in 1947 and St. Michael's College in 1935.

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ARCAT Artifacts Collection

This ice pitcher was presented to Archbishop Walsh on the occasion of his 25th year as a bishop by the 'pupils of Loretto Convent' in 1892. The pitcher made by the Acme Silver Company in Toronto is double walled to keep water cool. You can find it in the company's catalogue here.

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ARCAT Artifact Collection

The Ancient Order of Hibernians also presented Archbishop Walsh with a water pitcher for his jubilee, but this one is a bit fancier. It rests on a stand and tilts so that guests have an easier time handling it when it is heavy. It includes a place to rest your cup. This victorian tilting set can also be found in the catalogue listed above.

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ARCAT Artifact Collection

Apparently tilting sets were popular gifts in the latter half of the 19th century. Archbishop Walsh received this one on the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination in 1879. Before they came to ARCAT, the two Victorian tilting sets in our collection were on display outside Cardinal Carter's office in the old chancery building downtown.

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ARCAT Artifact Collection

And in first place, gold!

This gold pocket watch was presented to Cardinal Carter by Chief Julian Fantino on behalf of the Toronto Police Service in 2000.

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ARCAT Artifact Collection

A pair of 10k gold Birks cufflinks belonging to Archbishop Pocock with his coat of arms.

ACC 2014-005

Another set of gold cufflinks belonging to a member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.

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ARCAT Artifact Collection

Let's wish our Canadian athletes luck in bringing home some silver, bronze and gold!

On the eleventh day of Christmas, ARCAT stored for me…

...eleven saintly medals,

Medallions Special Collection
MD.20, MD.141, MD.64, MD.126, MD.111, MD.101, MD.80, MD.42, MD.74, MD.36, MD.51, MD.64

Medals are typically round pieces of metal struck or cast for commemorative purposes. Religious devotional medals often depict the saints.  Medals may be designed for display purposes, or to be worn or attached to a rosary.

In the Middle Ages, it became common practice for pilgrimage sites to distribute tokens cast in lead, which served as a souvenir and proof that the pilgrim had duly reached the destination. During the Renaissance, religious medals became aides in popular devotion, often because the medals were given a papal blessing or enriched with indulgences. The issuing of papal jubilee medals began as early as 1475. Since then, the most noteworthy actions of each pontificate have been commemorated with medals.

Today we highlight “saintly medals” in our collections, including religious medals of saints, and papal medals of popes who have since been canonized (left to right):

• St. John XXIII (the Pope is wearing headgear known as the Papal Camauro, a cap of wool or velvet with fur trim)
• St. Elizabeth of Hungary
• The Conversion of St. Augustine
• St. Paul (presumably because this bearded figure is holding a scroll, representing the Scriptures)
• St. John Paul II (World Youth Day Toronto 2002 medal)
• St. Charles Borromeo
• St. Christopher medallion, popularly worn by travelers or hung in vehicles for protection.  The reverse of this medallion states: “I am a Catholic. In case of accident call a priest."  
• St. Pius X
• St. Joseph, distributed at the Oratory in Montreal
• St. Gregory Barbarigo
• St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, a Canadian saint

ten ’broidered vestments,

nine document seals,

eight spir’tual bouquets,

seven papal bulls,

six pairs of buskins,

five golden rings,

four photographs,

three mitres,

two maniples,

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.

Record of the Week: Photos of the Church's newest saints

Photograph of Pope John XXIII with Toronto Mayor Nathan Phillips and his wife.
[between 1958 and 1962]
PH 63/13CP

Pope John Paul II arrives at Pearson Airport September 14, 1984 for the
Toronto/Huronia leg of the Papal Visit to Canada
Photograph courtesy RCMP/GRC

On Sunday, two former popes - Blessed John XXIII and Blessed John Paul II - will be canonized.

The Archdiocese of Toronto has created a website that includes biographies, stories from people who met the Popes and local events celebrating the canonizations.  There is also a list of the many monuments, schools, parishes and other buildings in the archdiocese named after the Church's two newest saints.

ARCAT created a display of photos, papal medals depicting the Popes, as well as ephemera from the 1984 Papal Visit to Canada.

Our latest display in the entrance of the Catholic Pastoral Centre. 

Record of the Week: Papal Medal of the Reconvening of Vatican II

Paul VI papal medal, 1963
Medallions Special Collection, MD.23

Fifty years ago, Pope Paul VI reconvened the Second Vatican Council, which had automatically closed with the death of Pope John XXIII.  Paul VI, portrayed in profile on the obverse of this medal, was known for giving Vatican II clear direction, and for leading the implementation of its resulting reforms.

This papal medal commemorates Paul VI opening the second session of Vatican II in 1963. The reverse depicts the Supreme Pontiff walking through the doors of St. Peter's Basilica to a crowd of seated participants. St. Peter's Baldachin over the main altar can be seen in the background.

The medal likely belonged to Most Rev. Philip F. Pocock, Coadjutor Archbishop of Toronto at the time, who participated in Vatican II on behalf of Archbishop James Cardinal McGuigan. It has an "800" stamp on the reverse, indicating a composition of 80% silver and 20% copper.

The issuing of papal jubilee medals began as early as 1475. Since then, the most noteworthy actions of each pontificate have been commemorated by medals, often designed by famous artists. 

Display of medals at the Catholic Pastoral Centre

Today we took down a display of medals from the lobby entrance of the Catholic Pastoral Centre. Luckily - because the medals are impervious to heat and sunlight - we were able to keep the display up all summer.