Description
Republic of Venice, Michele Steno, the 63rd Doge of Venice 1400-1413 AD, Gold Ducato (3.43g, 21mm), Venice city mint. Obverse: Saint Mark, wearing nimbus crown and vestments and holding Book of Gospels in left hand, presenting staff with pennant to Doge Michele Steno kneeling before him and raising head, “DVX” downward between them, legend surrounds, “MIChAЄL STЄN ·S·M· VЄNЄTI”. Reverse: Christ, wearing nimbus crown and vestments and holding Book of Gospels in left hand and raising right in benediction, stands facing forward surrounded by nine stars, all within mandorla, legend surrounds, “·SIT· T· XPЄ· DAT’ Q· TV RЄGIS ISTЄ DVCAT’”. Friedberg-1230; Paolucci-1. A few light marks to obverse, otherwise a lovely example, typically bold in strike and visually attractive, near Extremely Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Michaēl Steno dux, Sānctus Mārcus Venetiae”, with an English translation of “Duke/Doge Michele Steno, Saint Marcus of Venetia”. The reverse Latin legend reads “sit tibi, Chrīste, datus tū regis iste ducātus”, with an English translation of “To you, Christ, this Duchy you rule given”.