The election of Pope Leo XIV this spring has sparked renewed interest in Vatican City coinage as collectors look back on the remarkable numismatic legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis. Each papacy has long left its mark on world numismatics, but the transition from Francis to Leo XIV — the first U.S.-born pope — has brought a fresh wave of excitement among collectors who follow religious and papal coinage.
The new pope’s appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on May 8 marked more than a change in spiritual leadership. It set in motion another chapter in an unbroken numismatic tradition dating back 1,200 years. As private mints begin issuing commemoratives for Leo XIV, collectors are also revisiting the extensive series of coins and medals struck during Francis’s 12-year pontificate.
Much of Francis’s numismatic legacy culminated at his funeral, where a set of 12 pontifical medals — one for each year of his papacy — was placed in his coffin. Designed by emerging Italian artists selected through annual Vatican competitions, these medals captured key themes and events of Francis’s work, from humanitarian outreach to messages of peace and mercy.
Two of the medals buried with Francis were designed by Rome-based artist Chiara Principe, who helped shape Vatican coinage throughout his pontificate. Her pieces, struck by the Italian Mint, reflect both artistic innovation and deeply personal symbolism chosen directly by the pope himself — a rare distinction in the world of papal coins and medals.
As collectors prepare for the first official numismatic issues of Leo XIV’s papacy, the continuity and evolution of Vatican coinage remain front and centre. From the papal medallions of Hadrian I under Charlemagne to modern euro-denominated Vatican coins, each pontiff leaves behind a numismatic imprint. With a new papacy now underway, the global collecting community is watching closely for the next chapter. .
Check out this intriguing story in the latest issue of Canadian Coin News (V63N19), released today (Nov. 25). Get your copy, available in both digital and print, and uncover more compelling features when you subscribe to Canadian Coin News, published 26 times a year.