Leo XII

LEO XII (September 28, 1823 — February 10, 1829 Æ Obv.: LEO • XII. PONT • MAX • ANNO • III G • GIROMETTI • F Bust of pope, r., w. zucchetto, mozzetta and stole. Rev.: ET • CLAVSIT MDCCCXXV | Pope with bishops and Swiss Guard, sealing the Holy Door. Spink 2115. Æ Obv.: O FELIX COELI PORTA The Virgin Mary and Christ child. . Rev.: Inscription: LEONE • XII • P •M • | BENEDICTVS | TIT• S • CLEMENTIS | S • R • E • PRESB • CARDINAL • NARO | SACROSAN • BASIL • LIB • ARCHIPR | PORTAM AVREAM | STATIS • DIEBVS | APERVIT • ET • OCCLVSIT | AN • IVBILAEI • MDCCCXXV "In the Pontificate of Leo XII, Benedict Naro, Cardinal Priest of the Holy Roman Church of ( the title of ) S. Clemente, Archpriest of the Sacrosanct Liberian Basilica, opened and closed the golden door on the appointed days in the Jubilee Year, 1825." Benedetto Cardinal Naro (1744-1832) was a descendant of the Roman nobility. His entire career was in the papal court. Beginning under Clement XIII he was a privy chamberlain and Canon of the Vatican Basilica, rising in 1807 to be Majordomo and Prefect of the Apostolic Palaces. He was named a Cardinal in the Consistory of March 8, 1816, and became Archpriest of S. Maria Maggiore on January 1, 1824. In 1818 he was named Prefect of the Congregation of the Index, and in 1821 Prefect of the Congregation of Religious. He participated in the conclaves of 1823, 1829, and 1830-31. [See: Charles Berton, Dictionnaire des cardinaux 1259-1260.] AG Obv.: THESAUROS DIVINAE MISERICORDIAE OMNIBUS APERUIMUS | EX BULLA IUBILAEI EXTENSI . MDCCCXXVI. "'We have opened the treasuries of divine mercy to all. I have extended (this) in accordance with the Jubilee Bull. 1826." (in exergue:) LEO XII SUCCESSOR | CCLV. "Leo XII, 255th Successor [of St. Peter]" Full length standing figure of pope, l., w. tiara, cope, surplice and stole; keys of St. Peter in r., papal cross in left. Rev.: EX SUPREMA LIGANDI ATQUE SOLVENDI POTESTATE "In accordance with the supreme power of binding and loosing" (in exergue:) MATTH .XVI.V.XIX NEUSS.F Saint Peter, standing, r., with keys in r. Spink 2118 ?