Description:

These collectible phone cards represent a captivating fusion of fine art and telecommunications memorabilia, issued in 1995 by ACMI. Each card features detailed reproductions of iconic frescoes by Michelangelo from the Sistine Chapel, located in Vatican City. Specifically, they depict two pivotal scenes from the Chapel's ceiling: the Creation of Adam and the Creation of God. Presented as a set of two $6 telecards designed for prepaid phone calls, they also serve as miniature works of art, celebrating Renaissance religious artistry and its enduring cultural significance.

The first card prominently showcases the powerful figure of Adam, the central nude male in Michelangelo’s renowned composition where God's finger nearly touches Adam’s, symbolizing the divine breath of life. Adam is depicted reclining in a naturalistic, muscular pose, characteristic of 16th-century Italian art that emphasizes the beauty and anatomical precision of the human form. Surrounding him are architectural elements from the chapel’s ceiling, illustrating how intricately Michelangelo’s work is woven into the overall design of the space. The card features a red "$6 TELECARD" inscription alongside the issuer’s logo, seamlessly blending modern functionality with classical imagery.

The second card captures the divine figure of God, surrounded by angels, creating a striking contrast with Adam’s scene. God is portrayed as an elderly yet muscular figure, radiating dynamic energy as He reaches out to impart life. The background includes cherubs and flowing drapery, conveying a sense of movement and divine presence—hallmarks of Michelangelo’s fresco technique. Visible cracks in the fresco are intentionally depicted, emphasizing the artwork’s age and the frescoed surface on plaster, adding authenticity to the reproduction. Like the first card, this one bears the same telecard denomination and issuer branding, linking its practical use to an aesthetic homage.

The reverse side of each card offers practical information, including dialing instructions in multiple languages and customer service numbers, highlighting its original purpose as a prepaid long-distance calling card. Dated March 25, 1995, it stands as a collectible proof card—a distinctive artifact of the 1990s that merges Renaissance art appreciation with contemporary technology. Overall, this set of phone cards functions as a miniature art gallery, allowing art enthusiasts and collectors to carry a piece of Michelangelo’s masterpiece—and the rich religious and artistic heritage of the Vatican—in their pockets.

Since we have the world's largest inventory of USA phonecards for collectors, you will not necessarily receive the identical serial/batch/PIN number that we have scanned/pictured.