The canonization of St. Pope Paul VI and the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Padre Pio are amongst the themes of the new Vatican philatelic and numismatic releases for December 4, 2018.
Coins depicting  St Paul VI and the virtue of Temperance
A special silver coin with gold-plated images with a face value of five euros was issued by the Philatelic and Numismatic Office for the canonization of Pope Montini forty years after his death. 1,500 coins were circulated at its first circulation.
As part of the four-year cycle dedicated to the Cardinal Virtues, a 200 euro gold coin dedicated to the Virtue of Temperance was minted. The image on the coin, sculpted by Antonella Napolione, depicts a woman mixing wine with water, while on the column a bandaged sword symbolizes the ability to fight while maintaining control.
An First Day Cover commemorating the 50th anniversary of Padre Pio’s death
The fiftieth anniversary of the death of St. Pio of Pietralcina is celebrated with a philatelic-numismatic cover, which contains 2 euro commemorative coin and a stamp.
A Numismatic volume was also issued. It includes the two 2-euro coins dedicated to the 1950thanniversary of the martyrdom of Sts Peter and Paul and to the centenary of the Fatima apparitions.
