Venice (1585-95) ducato Dav-8404
This specimen was lot 1341 in Stephen Album sale 47 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2023), where it sold for $570. The catalog description[1] noted, "VENICE: Pasqual Cicogna, 1585-1595, AR ducato of 124 soldi, Lion of St. Mark at left, doge kneeling at right, holding staff with cross and pennant at top // St. Justina, holding palm branch and book, and in background, to either side, a ship at sea and rocky island on horizon, scratch, PCGS graded AU details." This coin was originally equal to a Dutch silver ducat or a Brabant patagon. It was struck to this module until about 1660, when it was reduced to 23.40 g, 0.826 fine silver, and its place taken by the ducatone. This coin was issued a few years after the battle of Lepanto, the Venetian navy's last act as a major sea power. Davenport states that this coin should bear mintmaster's initials but neither this example or others seen on CoinArchives show any.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 28.10 g, .948 fine silver, this specimen 28.06 g.
Catalog reference: Dav-8404, KM MB265.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1484-1600, Frankfurt: Numismatischer Verlag, 1977.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 47, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2023.
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