Lourdes Jubilee Edition
Authentic Water from the Lourdes Shrine!
150 years ago last year, the Virgin Mary is said to have made a dozen apparitions in the small French village of Lourdes. Since 1858, the Lourdes Grotto has attracted millions of pilgrims seeking healing and comfort from its waters. This innovative new coin issue from the island nation of Palau honors the 150th Anniversary of Lourdes with a One Dollar legal tender copper coin, layered in pure silver and containing a cast-in glass pipette which contains actual water from the Lourdes Grotto. A portion of the revenue from this coin goes to help French invalids make their pilgrimage to Lourdes.
After her death, Bernadette Soubirous was canonized as a saint, and many Catholics believe her visions to have been of the Virgin Mary. In 1943, the story became the basis of the film The Song of Bernadette, starring Jennifer Jones in the title role. The film won several Academy Awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actress for Jones. At the first Golden Globes ceremony in 1944, Jones received the award for Best Actress and the film won Best Picture.
The Miracle of Lourdes
The apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes first began on February 11, 1858. A 14 year old peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous, told her mother that she had seen a "lady" in the cave about a mile from the town while she was gathering firewood with her sister and a friend. Similar appearances of the "lady" took place on seventeen further occasions that year and thousands of faithful believers began flocking to the shrine - which is still visited by millions each year.
| SKU | 1803133 |
|---|---|
| Country | Palau |
| Date of Issue | 2008 |
| Material | Base Metal |
