View source for Venice (1285-89) ducat Fr-1215

[[Image:CNG XXIX 1066.jpg|550px|thumb|CNG Triton XXIX, lot 1066]]

This specimen was lot 1066 in CNG Triton XXIX (New York, January 2026), where it sold for $18,375. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"ITALY, Venezia ([[Italy, Venice|Venice]]). Giovanni Dandolo. 1280-1289. AV Ducato. Struck 1285-1289. St. Mark standing right, presenting banner to Doge kneeling left / Christ standing facing within mandorla containing nine stars. Edge marks, trace of deposits. Good VF. Very rare.

<p>"Though their rivals in Genoa and Florence began striking gold 32 years earlier, the first gold coin of Venice was only authorized in a resolution of 31 October 1284 and struck early the following year. Struck at a weight standard of 67 to the mark, this new denomination soon became known as the “ducato,” no doubt in reference to the final word in the reverse legend. The innovation would prove to be an unparalleled excess. Beyond merely supplanting the gold coinage of their competitors in trade, the Venetian ducat became a standard unit of account and international currency of such popularity that it would be copied from Europe to India. The designs first seen here would persist for over 400 years and, on the related zecchini, until a final issue under Habsburg occupation in the early 19th century."</p></blockquote> The republic of Venice invented the ducat in the late 1200's and issued them more or less continuously until the final collapse in 1797. This is the first one and, while it is not the most expensive, it is certainly not common.

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 19.5 mm diameter, 3.52 g, 6 h axis. 

''Catalog reference:'' Paolucci 1; Papadopoli 1; MEC 12, 1062; Friedberg 1215. 

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, ''Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed.,'' Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
* Rafaele Paolucci, ''La Zecca di Venezia,'' 2 vols. Padua, 1991.
* <sup>[1]</sup>Gasvoda, Michael, Victor England, Eric McFadden, Dave Michaels, Bill Dalzell and Lance Hickman, ''Triton XXIX,'' Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, LLC, 2025.

''Link to:''
* [[Venice (1289-1311) zecchino Fr.1216]], Pietro Gradenigo
* [[Coins and currency dated 1285]]

[[Category:Selections from CNG sale Triton XXIX]][[Category:Gold ducats of Europe]]