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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;willieboyd2, post: 25203558, member: 4910&quot;]A ducat from old Venice:</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.brianrxm.com/posts/post_venice_ducat_1585_cicogna.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Venice Ducat Doge Pasquale Cicogna 1585-1595</p><p>Gold, 20 mm, 3.50 gm</p><p><br /></p><p>Obverse: Left Saint Mark, standing and facing right with banner, right, the Doge kneeling</p><p>S M VENET DVX PASC CICON</p><p>(&quot;Sacra Moneta Venetiae Dux Paschalis Ciconia&quot; or &quot;Sacred Money of Venice Duke Pasquale Cicogna&quot;)</p><p><br /></p><p>Reverse: Christ standing with Book of Gospels, surrounded by 19 stars and oval</p><p>SIT T XPE DAT QTV REGIS ISTE DVCAT</p><p>(&quot;Sit tibi, Christe, datus, quem tu regis, iste ducatus&quot; or &quot;To Thee, O&#039;Christ, is Dedicated, Which Thou Rulest, this Duchy&quot;)</p><p><br /></p><p>Venetian gold ducats circulated all over Europe during the middle ages. They were also known as zecchinos and sequins.</p><p><br /></p><p>These coins were made of 99% gold but sometimes had small amounts of impurities. This coin has a corrosion spot due to exposed silver or copper on the surface.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Republic of Venice was the city of commerce during the middle ages, and was ruled by an elected Doge (Duke) and a council.</p><p><br /></p><p>Doge Pasquale became known for throwing out silver coins rather than gold coins during his coronation.</p><p><br /></p><p>Pasquale&#039;s major achievement as Doge was converting the city&#039;s Rialto Bridge from wood to stone.</p><p><br /></p><p>He died in 1595 and a year later an Englishman named William Shakespeare wrote a play &quot;The Merchant of Venice&quot; in which the duke was a minor character.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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