St. Peter\u2019s Basilica, the Great Synagogue, and the Grand Mosque. These three Roman religious buildings are depicted on the silver coin triptych, “The Three Monotheistic Religions Under the Sky of Rome.” The Italian State Mint and Polygraphic Institute produced the set, which was issued by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. “In Abraham, three faiths, one vision” is the inscription engraved on the edge of each coin in the set, which was presented on November 19 in the Julius Caesar Hall on Capitoline Hill. Rome\u2019s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri; Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia; Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni; and Imam Nader Akkad attended the meeting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Today, we renew a shared message of friendship and brotherhood, and we highlight the role of interreligious dialogue in understanding our common roots,” the mayor said, opening the ceremony. He emphasized the reference to the Capitoline Hill on the coins\u2019 shared reverse. A starry sky evokes the dream of Abraham, the patriarch of the three faiths, while three concentric circles recall Michelangelo\u2019s design of the square. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The silver coins are available only as a triptych. “This is not a marketing choice. It aligns with the idea behind the initiative,\u201d explained Paolo Perrone, chairman of the board of the Italian State Mint and Polygraphic Institute. “It was a joint effort involving three parties. Together, we chose images of places of worship and decided to depict unity on the reverse side,\u201d said Archbishop Paglia, president emeritus of the Pontifical Academy for Life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cToday, we are celebrating not only the issuance of three splendid coins, but also the realization of a dream\u2014Abraham\u2019s dream,\u201d emphasized Imam Akkad of the Grand Mosque. “It is a graphic sign open to everyone. We can live together, and we must live together,\u201d said Rabbi Di Segni at the conclusion of the ceremony. In his remarks, the chief rabbi reflected on the meaning of coexistence, noting that the term can be misleading because, for centuries in Rome, it was based on segregation and the denial of rights. Instead, he said, efforts must focus on building a coexistence “marked by respect, by recognition of difference, and by recognition of its dignity.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a video message, Giancarlo Giorgetti, the Minister of Economy and Finance, acknowledged that the current climate is not favorable for discussions about dialogue and peace. Yet, for that very reason, “civil and cultural responses” such as the one developed collectively around this project are essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n