Birmingham: Archbishop welcomes Papal Commemorative Coins from Seychelles

Archbishop Longley with Seychelles coin

A special Pope Francis legal tender Commemorative Coin series, released by the Central Bank of Seychelles has been welcomed by the Archbishop of Birmingham, Most Rev Bernard Longley.

He said: “This beautiful coin from Pobjoy Mint is a sign of the joy so many people have felt at the election of Pope Francis. For the people of the Seychelles it will evoke memories of Blessed John Paul II.”

“The ingenious inclusion of the ‘Stations of the Cross’ around Pope Francis’s image remind us that Christ is the Suffering Servant (in Isaiah’s prophecy) and that the Pope is entitled ‘Servant of the servants of God’.”

He concluded: “We see here the power of coins and medals to carry a deeper message than maybe immediately obvious. I congratulate the Seychelles and Pobjoy Mint on this fine tribute to the new Holy Father.”

A spokesman for the Central Bank of Seychelles said. “The Pope Francis Commemorative Coin issued by the Central Bank of Seychelles is not merely a collector’s item, it celebrates the joy of the people of Seychelles on the election of the new Holy Father, on 13 March 2013.

“The Central Bank of Seychelles is happy and proud to be part of such a project and is also most grateful for the message from Archbishop Bernard Longley, the Archbishop of Birmingham, in England.”

Seychelles, a member of the Commonwealth, is predominantly Catholic and has issued coins in the past depicting both Pope, now Blessed John Paul II (who visited the Seychelles in 1986) and Pope, now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI upon his election in April 2005.

Mr John Smith, CEO, of Pobjoy Mint Ltd, said: “The design of the Pope Francis coin has been produced in a range of metals and sizes including Un. Cupro Nickel, Sterling and Fine Proof Silver both plain and Goldclad.”

He added: “All precious metal versions have been struck in the highest Proof quality for which the Pobjoy Mint is renowned. They are now available and will be of interest to both coin collectors and non-collectors world-wide.”

For further information please see Pobjoy Mint Ltd website: www.pobjoy.com