Site: 18ST329/330 Fly/St. Inigoes House

Context: Lot 613, Unit 3, Level 1, Plowzone

Site Date Range: c. 1650-1750

Metal: Copper alloy

Dimensions: 0.88” (22.4 mm) wide, 1.14” (29 mm) tall, 0.056” (1.4 mm) thick

Front:
“*SAN**CAR*B*” around an image of Saint Charles Borromeo praying in front of a crucifix. The writing is probably an Italian abbreviation of the Saint’s name.

Back:
An image of the Holy Spirit over five figures. This motif resembles depictions of the Pentecost, or the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles fifty days after the Resurrection of Christ (Holweck 1912). It could also be a depiction of the five Spanish saints canonized in 1622. This group included St. Ignatious of Loyola, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis Xavier, St. Phillip Neri, and St. Isidore (Silas Hurry, personal communication 2009; AmericanCatholic.org 2009). The inscription “ROMA” at the bottom indicates that the medal was made in Rome, Italy (Deagan 2002:43).

History:
Saint Charles Borromeo was a prominent Roman Catholic ecclesiastic of the 16th-century. Among other offices, he served as Archbishop of Milan, and Papal Secretary of State under Pius IV. He is considered the patron saint of catechumens, catechists, bishops, clergy, seminarians, spiritual directors, apple orchards, colic, and intestinal problems (http://saints.sqpn.com/saintc10.htm). (Deagan 2002:44) states that medals depicting Carlos Borromeo are associated with the Benedictine devotion.

Courtesy Naval District Washington, Webster Field Annex.