I don't usually buy medieval European coins, but this one appealed to me too much to ignore. Venetian Republic. AR grosso. Doge Giovanni Dandolo (1280-1289). Obverse: Christ enthroned, holding Gospel, IC XC to sides. Reverse: IO DANDVL S M VENETI around, DVX in middle; Doge to left and Saint Mark to right, each holding staff of pennant. The city of Venice is world famous for its picturesque canals, which form the main thoroughfares of the city that is built on over a hundred tiny islands in the middle of a lagoon. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Venice was a major power dominating trade in the Mediterranean and using its large navy to project its military force. The city was organized as a republic, in which the wealthy aristocrats elected one of their own, usually an elderly man of recognized wisdom, to serve as the chief magistrate or Doge. ("Doge" derives from the Latin Dux, "military leader", which is the source of our title Duke and the modern Italian Duce, a title famously used by Mussolini.) The system of Doges lasted over a thousand years until 1797, when the city came under Napoleon's rule. Part of the reason I bought this coin was due to a mistake. When I saw that the doge was Giovanni Dandolo, I had him confused with Enrico Dandolo. Enrico is famous for leading the Venetian contingent in the Fourth Crusade's sack of Constantinople in 1204, despite his being ninety years old at the time and completely blind. Giovanni, unfortunately, did not have so colorful a history, but his main accomplishment was numismatic. He was the first doge to strike Venetian gold ducats, or zecchini, which continued to be a major trade currency throughout Europe and the Middle East until the series was ended by Napoleon in 1797. The silver gross, though not as impressive as its gold cousin, is nonetheless an attractive coin, full of history and romance, and not very expensive. This piece was from Stephen Album and cost $27. Please post your Venetian coins, or anything else related.
That's a very attractive coin!!! And seems a steal at that price I haven't stretched my coin budget to the medieval era yet ( and only a few Byzantines) but I'm sure I eventually will again I recall @stevex6 , among many others, having quite a few that I know you would love.
Great purchase @Parthicus I can see why you were attracted to the coin. A really nice piece of history.
Cubano manly-dancy? Great GROSSO @Parthicus ! This is the closest Medieval that I have to this time period. Not too far away from the Venetians, but this guy went Medieval and took Jerusalem away from the Christians at that time. Probably ticked off the Venetians! Ayyubids al-Nasir Salah al Din Yusuf (Saladin) AH564-589 SALADIN,(AD1169-1193) Mint: Hamah, possibly AH 582 (AD1186) Silver dirham 21 mm. 2.74 gr. Obv: The name the ruler al-Nasir Salah al-Din v Dunya inside a square. Rev: The name and the titles of the caliph al-Nasir inside a square. Ref: Album #787.2, Notes: This is a rare mint with clear date.
Very nice @Parthicus ! I had been on the look out for an Enrico Dandolo myself, and found them to be elusive... my Grosso is Enrico's successor, Pietro Zani Italian States, Venice Pietro Zani, r. 1205-1229 AR Grosso, 19.79 mm, 1.9 grams Obv.: [·+·]P·ZIANI· ·S·M.VENETI outside (Z retrograde), D/U/X down banner held between doge and St. Mark facing Rev.: [I¯C] X¯C across field, Christ enthroned facing And my write-up on this is here.
