'Papal Coat of Arms' Complete Set

Preciously finished with purest silver and hand-set with genuine Swarovski® crystals, this stunning set features detailed colour depictions of the personal coat of arms of the last twelve pontiffs.Papal heraldry has a long history, dating back to the Late Middle Ages, however, the first documented papal coat of arms was for Boniface VIII (1294-1303). Traditionally the papal coat of arms features the papal tiara above the escutcheon, with the keys of St Peter in saltire underneath and a red tasseled cord. One key represents the power reaching to heaven and the other key represents this extending to the faithful on earth. The other heraldic symbols on the coat of arms are personal to the pope, such as origin, membership of a specific order, and the aims and principles of the pope. The design of the papal coat of arms is decided upon by the pope himself.