20 euro – Saint Peter and the Rooster

The Vatican State Mint continues its “Art and Faith” series with the 20 Euro copper coin for 2024 depicting Saint Peter and the Rooster. On the reverse side of the coin, the artist Daniela Fusco shows in the foreground the rooster of Saint Peter - a bronze statue preserved in the Treasury Museum of Saint Peter’s Basilica - and in the background an image of the Apostle Peter. The rooster, always associated with the Apostle Peter, recalls Jesus’ prophetic words to him: “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” (Lk 22:54-62). The episode recounted in the four Gospels refers to Jesus’ arrest, when Peter is overcome with fear and denies him, pretending not to know him, only to repent and weep bitterly over it. Jesus knows that this humble fisherman will be the rock on which His Church will be built (Mt 16:18). In light of this, the artist depicts Peter with the keys in his hand, symbols of spiritual authority and the role of guardian of the gates of Paradise: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Mt 16:19).