1382 Vince 1 Gold Ducat (Zecchino) Antonio Venier
The Venetian Gold Ducat started to be minted in Venice during 1284. They were regularly struck and virtually unchanged until 1797 when Napoleon’s Army invaded and conquered Venice. Having been minted for over 500 years the Venetian gold ducat is longest running coin design in world history. The name “Ducat” comes from the Venetian “Doge” which comes from the Latin “Dux” which translate as “leader”.
The Duke of Aquilia, Roger II of Sicily, is probably the first to have had gold ducats minted. These were first struck in 1140 with the image of Jesus Christ on it along with the motto “SIT TIBI, CHRISTE, DATUS, QUEM TU REGIS ISTE DUCATUS”. This translates loosely as “O Christ, let this duchy which you rule be dedicated to you.” or “Christ, let this duchy that you rule be given to you.” Many consider this to be inspired by Matthew 22 19-21: “Show me the tribute money … render therefore unto Caesar’s the things that are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” (KJV).
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Roger II had inherited the troubled Sicily at the age of ten from his brother Simon. Simon had passed away after four years on the throne at the age of twelve. Their father Roger I or the Norman Count of Sicily had driven out the Moors from Southern Italy. The territories in the south of Italy that Roger I ruled had troubled years with two young rulers. However Roger II grew into a great leader. He managed to defend his possession against the aggressions of Greece, Hungry, and the Papacy. Roger II also was able to expanded his inheritance even into Africa. The Gold Ducat was only one of the many monetary reforms that Roger II had enacted to stabilize his lands. However it was not until after his son Roger III had kidnapped Pope Innocent II to force the acknowledgement of Roger II’s right to rule his lands. Roger II was Sicily’s first King.
1282-1300 Florence 1 Florin Gold-obverse
In 1282 Florence started minting gold coins that are heavier than the ducat called florin. The gold florins have a portrait of Jesus Christ on their obverse and on the reverse is the symbol of Florence the Fluers de Liles. Gold coins were becoming very important for trade in cities and states around the Mediterranean Sea. Even though all of Europe had been using silver for coinage for the past four centuries or so Africa was using gold. It was only a few decades earlier that Hungary had found gold in Slovakia, gold was fairly scarce in Europe. Increased trade with Africa allowed the Italian cities and states to acquire the more valuable gold.
1570-1577 Venice 1 Gold Ducat - Alvise Mocenigo I - obverse
It was under Doge Giovanni Dandolo, of the Republic of Venice that the Venetian’s gold ducat design came into being in 1284. These are 98.6% fine (23.75 carat) gold. These ducats typically weigh about 3.5 grams and are around 22 millimeters in diameter. For more than 300 years these gold coins, as well as all coins, were hammered die caste and are without milled edges making them susceptible to clipping.
1570-1577 Venice 1 Gold Ducat Alvise Mocenigo I - reverse
The obverse of the Venetian gold ducats have Saint Mark standing on the left side of the coin holding a staff and on the left is the Doge kneeling. The reverse has a large oval in its center with Jesus Christ standing in the center. There are stars on the left and the right of the oval field . The legends reflect the Doge that is currently ruling and has various portions referring to the the earlier Sicilian motto.
In 1543 Venice started minting silver coins which took over the name ducat and the gold ducats started being referred to as “Zecchino” (sequin) after the Venetian mint “zecca” which is derived from the Arabic word for a coin’s die; “sikka”. During the eighteenth century people in some regions started sewing zecchino into women’s clothing and this eventually led to the term ‘sequins’, as in women’s fashion wear.
1282-1300 Florence 1 Florin Gold-reverse
Eventually the gold ducat became the standard throughout most of Europe even though the florin of Florence was larger and initially more popular. As a matter of fact Florence's gold florin persevered until 1533 its gold content had begun changing during the 1400's and over all confidence in it began to diminish. This is one of the factors that allowed the 23.75 carat gold ducat to become and remain the bench mark in gold coinage for Europe.
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