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Miniature circular silvered medal with eyelet for suspension; the face with the haloed head and shoulders portrait of Saint Martin of Porres looking forwards left and down, a cross in his right hand clasped to his breast, circumscribed above ‘SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES’, a dog, cat and mouse to the left sharing a bowl, signed with monogram lower right; the reverse plain; some wear to the high points of the face and pitting to the reverse; diameter 18.5mm (0.73 inch). Martín de Porres Velázquez was born at Lima, Peru on 9 December 1579 to a Spanish father and a mother of mixed race, originally from Panama. He became a lay brother at the local Dominican Friary at the age of fifteen and spent the rest of his life there until his death on 3 November 1639. His mixed parentage limited his opportunities but nonetheless he worked in a variety of roles, becoming noted for his work with the infirm and poor. He was credited with many miracles, especially in healing the sick and communicating with animals. He was beatified by Pope Gregory XVI in 1837 and canonised by Pope John XXIII in 1962. His overcoming racial prejudice through humility, piety and dedication to the poor and sick make him a figure of especial contemporary importance.
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