Roma. Pio VII (Barnaba Chiaramonti), 1800-1823. Medaglia year XXIII/1822, AV 43.43 g. Ø 42 mm. For the expansion of the Vatican Museum (opus: Giuseppe Cerbara). PIVS SEPTIMVS – PON MAX ANNO XXIII Bust r., wearing tiara and cope decorated with heraldic devices; below, in legend, GIU CERBARA F. Rev. The interior of the Braccio Nuovo of the Museum called "Chiaramonti"; in exergue, NOVUM MUSEUM PIUM / A D MDCCCXXII and below, in legend, CERBARA F. Bartolotti E822. Extremely rare. A medal of enchanting beauty with an impressive reverse. Almost invisible mark on obverse field, otherwise virtually as struck and almost Fdc Ex NAC sale 121, 2020, 20. Of this medal 33 specimens were struck in gold and 2033 in silver. During the pontificate of Pius VII, the papal museum complex was significantly enlarged with the establishment of the Museo Chiaramonti, intended primarily to house ancient sculpture. Arranged under the direction of Antonio Canova, the museum formed part of a broader programme to enhance the papal collections following the substantial losses of works of art resulting from the Napoleonic requisitions. This commemorative medal records this important cultural initiative of Pius VII’s pontificate, celebrating the continuity of the papal tradition of antiquarian scholarship and artistic patronage. Please find here the video of the coin