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50 Kwacha Pope John Paul II
| Issuer | Reserve Bank of Malawi |
|---|---|
| Year | 2011 |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | The obverse presents a left-facing bust of Pope John Paul II in pontifical vestments in the upper left field, set against a detailed relief depiction of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City occupying the right and upper portions of the field. Beneath the bust and basilica, the bold incuse legend 'SANTO SUBITO' spans the central field, referencing the popular acclamation for his immediate sainthood. A horizontal rule divides the field, below which appear the denomination '50 MWK', a small effigy of a crowned Queen Elizabeth II, and the Malawi coat of arms, flanked by the circular legend 'REPUBLIC OF MALAWI 2011'. Along the upper rim, the arc inscription reads 'POPE JOHN PAUL II (16.X.1978 - 2.IV.2005)' denoting the dates of his pontificate. |
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| Reverse description | The reverse features a prominent three-quarter facing portrait of Pope John Paul II in old age, robed in papal vestments, with his right hand raised in a gesture of apostolic blessing. Behind the figure, a hatched or crosshatched background pattern fills the field, overlaid on the left with a stylized outline map bearing a large cross, referencing his pastoral legacy. The arc legend 'BEATIS IOANNES PAULUS II' curves along the upper rim in bold relief lettering, and the beatification date '1.V.2011' is inscribed along the lower field, commemorating the ceremony of his beatification on 1 May 2011. |
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| Additional information |
Malawi's Reserve Bank issued a series of large-format silver pieces in the late 2000s and early 2010s explicitly targeting the collector market, with papal and religious subjects among the most commercially reliable themes. John Paul II had died in 2005, and his beatification in May 2011 — the same year this coin was struck — created a predictable spike in commemorative demand across multiple issuing authorities worldwide. Malawi had no particular relationship with the Vatican; the subject was chosen for its marketability, not historical connection.