Religious Shipwreck Medallion (El Bueno Consejo) - Bronze - Virgin Adored and Saint Barbara

 Bronze Religious Medallion  

  • Metal: Bronze
  • Width: 3/4"  
  • Height: 5/8”
  • Weight: 10.36 gm
  • Obverse: "The Virgin Adored" Senora del Pilar
  • Reverse: Saint Barbara - Patron Saint of Firefighters 

"Virgin Adored" is Nuestra Senora del Pilar -- Our Lady of the Pilar. Nuestra Senora del Pilar is a church and one of the most important Marian shrines in Spain, located in Saragossa. Ancient Spanish tradition memorializes the apparition of Our Lady to Saint James the Apostle by the banks of the Ebro in Saragossa. Tradition maintains that she appeared before him, giving him a statue of herself and a column of wood, whose likenesses were to be the "title and alter" of a church she wished him to build in her name.

The legend on the medallion reads: N S DEL PIL N(uestra) S(enora) del Pil(ar)

Saint Barbara appears on the opposite side of the medallion. Research gathered from various sources differs regarding when she lived, with one source dating her death around 235 A.D., and another stating she lived in the 300's. About half of the sources placed her in the third century, and about half in the forth century.

Barbara's association with storms and lightning has evolved over the centuries into an association with all things relating to fire, artillery, and sudden death. Barbara is Patron Saint of Artillerymen, Mathematicians, Firefighters, Construction Workers, Geologists, Tilers, Stone Masons, Carpenters, Miners, Sailors, Military Engineers, Architects, Dying People, and Grave Diggers.

Today the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara and the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara honor those who have contributed exceptionally in air and field artillery duty.

History: Associated with the Shipwreck "El Bueno Consejo", on shore of the Caribbean island Anguilla. The Galleon was carrying 50 Franciscan Monk and thousands fo religious medallions to be used in converting the New World to Christianity. 

BRM006

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