Medal

Rectangular plate with an image of the Virgin, on pedestal, covered with wide embroidered mantle, holding the Child in her left arm and a scepter in the right, and surrounded by drapery. On the back, shield of the Inquisition with cross, sword and burning heart. It is mounted on a plain silver frame, and has a handle and loop. This piece stands out specially for its careful elaboration. \In the prodigious History of the admirable apparition of Our Lady of the Soterraña de Nieva, special defender of rays and sparks for all his devotees, and especially for those who bring stamp or medal touched to his image, which is venerated in the Convent of Dominican Fathers of the Villa de Santa Maria la Real de Nieva, published in 1781, reads: Five leagues distant from the ancient and famous City of Segovia, to the North, there is a place of small population, which was formerly called Nieva, and at present commonly called Nievecilla,[...]. At a short distance from this small town there was a wonderful slate field for its aridity, and great for its extension, because it formed a kind of small hill...[...]. In the uncultivated and dark slate, which has just hinted, was keeping sheep Pedro Amador, a native of Pozal de Gallinas, a place a league away from Medina del Campo, who was later called Pedro de Buenaventura, surname that gave him the joy of having served as an instrument to MARY HOLY in the glorious apparition of a prodigious image of her. \In the context of this legend takes place the production of devotional medals, pendants and decorative slate plaques, whose workmanship presents a delicate carving, an indication of the existence of a workshop or workshops of a certain specialization and in which the size of the plaque in question will be the circumstance that determines the level of detail highlighted in each case. The iconography of the Virgin of Nieva presented on the slate medals follows the model disseminated by means of prints that came to light in the mid-18th century. This invocation is frequently associated with the coat of arms of the Dominican Order, as it was born in the Royal Convent of Santo Domingo de Nieva. For this same reason, the symbols of the Inquisition (the cross, symbolizing repentance before punishment and the salvation guaranteed by the recognition of Christ; on the right, the sword, symbol of the severity of the punishment imposed on the unrepentant; and on the left, the olive branch, symbol of the peace and clemency offered to the repentant) are frequently present on the reverse, since the presence of Dominicans in the tribunals of the Holy Office was common. \The slates of Nieva, which have been preserved in large numbers, were also considered to be effective protectors against lightning and storms.