Venice (1312-28) grosso
This specimen was lot 1344 in Stephen Album sale 43 (Santa Rosa, CA, May 2022), where it sold for $332. The catalog description[1] noted, "VENICE: Giovanni Soranzo, 1312-1328, AR grosso, ND, doge and St. Mark standing facing, each holding banner between them // Christ enthroned facing, a superbly well-detailed strike possibly deserving of a higher numerical grade, NGC graded MS63." The standard coin of the Middle Ages was the silver penny, derived from the Roman denarius (dinero in Italian). Centuries of debasement had rendered it useless for commercial transactions, so in the thirteenth century the Italian merchant states (especially Venice) introduced the grosso, worth twelve denari. This spread over Europe and became the gros Tournois (France), groat (England), groschen (Germany) and groot (Low Countries).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 2.16 g.
Catalog reference: Paol-2, Biaggi-2803.
- Rafaele Paolucci, La Zecca di Venezia, 2 vols. Padua, 1991.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 43, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2022.
Link to:
- Venice (1289-1311) grosso, Pietro Gradenigo
- Venice (1312-28) zecchino Fr.1218
- Venice (1329-39) grosso, Francesco Dandolo
- Coins and currency dated 1312