ITALY. Vatican. Lateran Treaty/50th Year of Priesthood Gold Medal, 1929 Year VIII. Rome Mint. Pius XI. PCGS SPECIMEN-63 Gold Shield. Bartolotti-E-929; Rinaldi-123. Weight: 58.47 gms. By A. Mistruzzi. Obverse: PIVS XI PONTIFEX MAXIMVS ANNO VIII, bust left, wearing zucchetto and mantum; sprig below; Reverse: Chalice below radiant sun with Christ monogram; in background, facade of the Lateran Palace and St. Peters Cathedral; in two lines in exergue, PACE CHRISTI ITALIAE / REDDITA. VERY RARE in gold, this impressive specimen features lightly frosted devices and heavily mirrored fields that ultimately create an exceptional cameo effect. Just a few, very subtle hairlines are noted merely for completeness. Includes original red case of issue.<em style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.3333px;">The Lateran Treaty ended the longstanding feud between the Kingdom of Italy and the Papacy over the sovereignty of the latter within the former. The treaty gave the Vatican City to the Papacy--a separate city-state headed by the pope within the city of Rome itself--as well as compensation to the papacy by the Italian government for the loss of the territory within the papal states.</em>
