Venetian gold ducat (zecchino)

The Venetian gold ducat, later known as the zecchino, was a major gold trade coin introduced in 1284 by the Great Council of the Republic of Venice. Created in response to the debasement of the Byzantine hyperpyron, Venice modelled the denomination's size and weight on the Florentine florin. Struck from 3.545 grams of exceptionally pure gold at 99.47 percent fineness, the coin quickly established an enduring international reputation across Mediterranean and European commerce.

For centuries, succeeding doges of Venice maintained the ducat's rigorous standard of weight and fineness without alteration. In the sixteenth century, as the silver currency depreciated and a separate silver-based accounting ducat developed, the physical gold piece was designated the ducato de zecca (ducat of the mint), later shortened to zecchino and corrupted in English to sequin. Doge Leonardo Loredan and subsequent rulers introduced fractional denominations and large multiples, all adhering to the original design and standards. Venice continued striking these undated gold coins until the fall of the republic to Napoleon in 1797.

The iconography was derived from Venetian silver grossi and Byzantine traditions. The obverse portrays the Doge of Venice kneeling before Saint Mark, the patron saint of the republic, who holds the gospel and presents a gonfalone banner to the ruler. Saint Mark is named in the left legend as S M VENET, whilst the doge's personal name appears on the right alongside the title DVX. The reverse depicts Christ standing within an oval frame amid a field of stars, encircled by the Latin inscription Sit tibi, Christe, datus, quem tu regis iste ducatus.

The specific issuing doge is determined by the personal name accompanying the title DVX in the obverse legend.