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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Blodoks, post: 2394393, member: 78056&quot;]Mine Venetian Grosso aka Matapàn </p><p><br /></p><p>Doge Giovanni Soranzo (IO SVRANTIO) 1312 - 1328</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://lughlvga.altervista.org/coins/my_grosso_matap__n.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p>The Grosso in Venice</p><p><br /></p><p>Under the reign of the Doge Enrico Dandolo (1192-1205), to solve the decline of the main european coin (penny or pfenning), there was the decisive breakthrough with a higher denomination coin of fine silver called Grosso or Matapàn.</p><p>This coin got immediately a huge success at the international level by becoming the &quot;currency&quot; more appreciated all over the Mediterranean area thanks to a wide-ranging economic policy intended to promote trade with the East.</p><p><br /></p><p>The image of Dandolo appears on the Grosso coin: he is wearing a cloak and holding the “ducal promise” in his left hand while St. Mark presents him with the gonfalon (banner) in his right. On the reverse, Christ facing, sitting on a throne.</p><p><br /></p><p>Etymology: GROSSO, literally big coin (it originally weighed 2.18 grams); MATAPAN from Arabic &quot;mautaban&quot; meaning &quot;Christ seated&quot;.</p><p><br /></p><p>The progressive devaluation of the Grosso Matapàn began towards the end of the 14th century because of the huge costs of the several wars of Venice, which force to reduce several times the official weight of the coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>Grosso type 1 (or Matapàn) 1192-1356</p><p>2.18g (silver 96.5%)</p><p>Doge facing, without &quot;Corno ducale&quot; (typical Doge&#039;s hat)</p><p><br /></p><p>Grosso type 2 1382-1400</p><p>1.98g (silver 95.2%)</p><p>Doge in profile, with &quot;Corno ducale&quot; (typical Doge&#039;s hat)</p><p>On the reverse, added a star and a P</p><p><br /></p><p>Grosso type 3 1400-1423</p><p>1.82g (silver 91.2%)</p><p>Doge in profile, with &quot;Corno ducale&quot; (typical Doge&#039;s hat)</p><p>On the front, added two stars (or T and M for Doge Tommaso Mocenigo)</p><p>On the reverse, added GLORIA TIBI LAVS</p><p><br /></p><p>Grosso type 4 (or Grossetto) 1423-1471</p><p>1.40g (silver 91.2%)</p><p>Like type 3 but different weight[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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