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

Context: Lot 638, Shovel test D11, Plowzone

Site Date Range: c. 1650-1750

Metal: Copper alloy

Dimensions: 1.19” (30.2 mm) wide, .074” (18.8 mm) tall, .057” (1.4 mm) thick

Front:
“S•GNATIVS SOC IESV•F•” Latin abbreviation for Saint Ignatius, Society of Jesus. The “F” may stand for “fundatoris,” or Founder.

Back:
“S•FRANC• XAV• SOC IESV•I•AP” Latin abbreviation for Saint Francis Xavier, Society of Jesus. Francis Xavier was known as the “Apostle of the Indies,” and the “I AP” is most likely a reference to this title.

History:
St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) was the leading founder of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. The formation of the Society of Jesus was approved by papal bull in 1540, and Ignatius Loyola was canonized in 1622 (Pollen 1912). He is the patron Saint of Jesuits and soldiers.

St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552) was one of six individuals who joined with Ignatius Loyola to found the Society of Jesus. He was canonized in 1622 and became the patron saint of foreign missions (http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=423).

Courtesy Naval District Washington, Webster Field Annex.