Nativity of Christ Silver Medal, 15.5 g

Story

The story of the Saviour of humanity’s birth has its roots in ancient prophecies. They foretold that 490 years after the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Messiah – Christ – would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem.

When the Virgin Mary received the joyous announcement that she had been chosen to bear God in human form and gladly accepted this role, she kept it secret. At the time, she had not yet begun living with Joseph the Betrothed, to whom she had been given in order to protect her virginhood – and to hide her from the devil, who was waiting for a virgin (i.e. an unmarried woman) to give birth to the Son of God. But when, dismayed, he found out about her pregnancy, she still would not reveal the secret, even to him. Tormented by the thought of her infidelity, Joseph was faced with а difficult decision – to reveal her secret to the public, condemning her to death, or to leave her and hide his own shame. But in his sleep, he was visited by an angel, who told him that Mary is still immaculate, and the child she is carrying is the Son of God. The holy man accepted the truth and remained faithful to his mission.

Some time later, Joseph was mandated by a decree to return to his hometown for a census. And so, he and the heavily pregnant Virgin Mary set off for Bethlehem. But the small town was unable to house the influx of people travelling from every corner of the province, and all the inns in the area were out of beds. The Mother of God and her guardian were forced to take shelter at one of the caves on the outskirts of the town where the local herders would leave their cattle overnight. There, in these humble conditions, Christ was born, and his coming was announced far and wide by angels of the Lord.

Guided by a miraculous star, known today as the Star of Bethlehem, at that time three magi from the East were on their way to the holy family, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Messiah of the prophecies of old.

Symbolism

The Virgin Mary occupies a central spot in the composition. On her knees, she is holding the infant Jesus out as if presenting him to the world for whose salvation he took when he was born on Earth. From his position to Mary’s right, Joseph is reaching out reverently towards Christ.

The cave behind them represents a miniature scale model of the world – filled with sin and darkness which can only be dispersed by the holiness of the Saviour. He himself is at the centre of the composition, before the earth’s gaping “maw”, and the whiteness of His wrappings, together with His halo, appear to shine in stark contrast with the dark background. The rocky landscape resembles a stormy sea, as if the earth itself is shuddering in excitement over the Son of God’s birth.

The Star of Bethlehem shines over the cave – according to the plot of this Biblical scene, its ray of light is what was guiding three magi to the Saviour so that they may present their gifts, and the heavenly glow it appears to draw its shine from signifies its divine origin.

Even the cattle in the background reference the scripture: “The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner's manger, but Israel does not know (Me), My people do not understand.” (Isaiah 1:3).

Medals are minted pieces made through the same methods as coinage. They are classified as awards, commemoratives, souvenirs, religious, portraits, artistic, and society medals. Unlike coins, they are not legal tender and have no face value, but their aesthetic qualities have elevated them to an artform used for centuries to immortalise notable people, important moments in history, great achievements, locations, and other aspects of society and culture.

Bulmint’s products are made via modern coin-minting technology out of 999.9 fine gold and silver, but only some of them fit the criteria for investment products. Art medals are not considered investments, but they possess high artistic value and are popular among collectors. A small subset of them is made of precious metal alloys or gold-plated copper.

Each medal in our portfolio is distinguished by its proof quality – the highest in the coinage industry. The most crucial aspects of the manufacturing process – blank surface treatment, die production, and the number of strikes and amount of pressure applied during minting – are performed using specialised methods. This results in stunning contrast between the matt and the gloss elements of the composition.

Bulmint's art medals are an expression of our team’s creative vision and craftsmanship skills. The variety of the designs provides ample opportunity to include special features such as selective digital colorisation and a satin texture that visually stands out from the matt finish, highlighting selected details.

Our series of giftable keepsakes is inspired by an old Bulgarian tradition. According to folk beliefs, gold and silver possess magical properties and can bring protection, good luck, and even aid one during transitional periods. Since times forgotten, the most significant moments in life have been commemorated through gifts made of precious metals, imbued with well-wishes for good health, happiness, love, and prosperity. They are both a symbol of wealth and a means of attracting it. This tradition has transformed them into a manner of companion throughout one’s life journey. With gifts of gold and silver, we celebrate the moments we are graced with only once in a lifetime – the birth of a child, baptism, wedding, and any other occasion that marks a new beginning. The unfading value of the metal guarantees that these keepsakes will be preserved for years to come and even passed down to the next generation. Many of our gift medals can be customised through laser engraving – a personal touch in the form of a name, date, or heartfelt message.

We ship our orders with Econt Express. The cost of delivery is at the customer's expense and includes insurance, cash on the delivery fee, if applicable, and courier service. The total delivery cost is formed based on the chosen method of payment and the method of delivery.

Orders received by 3 p.m. on working days and chosen payment method cash on delivery or credit card are processed and shipped on the same day. Orders received after 3 p.m. or during the weekend, are processed and despatched on the next working day.

Each shipment has the "Check" option. In case the customer decides to return the order, the delivery and return costs are at the expense of the customer.

You can also get your order from the Bulmint showroom in Plovdiv at 24 Otets Paisiy Str. or in Sofia аt 1 Oborishte Str.

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