Threshold of Light
Symbolic Relationship with the Coin: Just as the Jubilee Quattrino of 1600 uses the Holy Door as a sign of passage from sin to grace, the Marian medal represents Mary’s intercession as a path to salvation. Both objects originate from jubilee or celebratory contexts and share a common purpose: to convey, through everyday devotional objects, a message of spiritual renewal and faith.
The Medal
Miraculous Madonna Rosary Centerpiece
The devotional medal featured in the necklace is a rosary centerpiece produced by the Maggi company of Milan between the 1930s and 1940s. The AM shape refers to the Marian Year, a period of spiritual renewal dedicated to the Virgin Mary, while the center depicts the Miraculous Madonna, a symbol of grace and protection. The artist reworked the piece with the application of gold leaf and a protective varnish.
The Coin
QUATTRINO MDC
Papal States CLEMENTE VIII 1600
ROME – HOLY DOOR
The Quattrino minted under Pope Clement VIII (Ippolito Aldobrandini, 1592–1605) is a copper coin issued for the Holy Year, or Jubilee of 1600. It symbolizes spiritual renewal connected to the opening of the Holy Door in the major basilicas, representing the passage from sin to divine grace. On the reverse is depicted the Holy Door, with the inscription “MDC” (1600 in Roman numerals) within the doorway; struck in bronze/copper. **Symbolic Meaning** The Holy Door evokes entry into Christian salvation, a tradition inaugurated during the Jubilees starting in 1450, with similar coins minted until 1775 for both propaganda and everyday circulation. This issue celebrated the Jubilee of 1600, emphasizing Rome’s role as the Holy City.
The Materials
