(sold for $45.0)

1361, Doges of Venice, Giovanni Dolfin. Beautiful Silver Soldino Coin. XF-AU!

Denomination: Soldino Mint Period: 1356-1361 AD Reference: Zub-Luciani 45, Montenuovo 112.    Doge: Giovanni Dolfin (57th Doge of Venice, 1356-1361 AD)  Condition: Light digs in obverse, otherwise a nicely toned XF-AU! Diameter: 15mm Weight: 0.54gm Material: Silver

Obverse: Kneeled Doge, holding banner with arms of the Republic of Venice. Legend: IOhS.DELF hYNO DVX     Reverse: Nimbate lion of Saint Mark rampart, holding banner with arms of the Republic of Venice. Legend:  S. MARCVS.VENETI

Giovanni Dolfin, also known as Giovanni Delfino or Delfin (died 12 July 1361) was the fifty-seventh Doge of Venice, appointed on August 13, 1356. Despite his value as general, during his reign Venice lost Dalmatia. He was blind from one eye after a wound received in battle.

He was born in Venice into one of the most ancient, noble and wealthy families of the city, as the son of Gregorio Delfin. The Dolfin family was allied with the Gradenigo, with whom they shared a common origin. Since the aristocratic coup of 1297, the Dolfin and the Gradenigo where among the favourites to occupy the ducal throne, and so they did, one after the other (Giovanni Dolfin's brother in law, Giovanni Gradenigo was doge before him). Dolfin was elected while defending Treviso, then besieged by Hungarian troops; being denied safe passage by his enemies, he broke the encirclement and reached Venice to be enthroned.

In the war which had broken out under Dolfin's predecessor, Hungary under King Louis I had conquered Dalmatia and was pushing other Venetian colonies to revolt. The Venetian defeat at Nervesa in February 1358 forced the Republic to sue for peace. In the resulting Treaty of Zadar the Venetians lost Dalmatia, Zara and Split, but maintained their naval predominance in the Adriatic Sea as the King of Hungary accepted not to build a fleet of his own. Also in 1358–1359 Padua started to menace the Venetian trades on the Brenta River and forced the city to stop trading with Egypt. These events triggered an economical crisis in Venice, which ended only after the War of Chioggia, in 1382.

Doge Giovanni Dolfin died in 1361 and was buried in the Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo, a traditional burial place of the doges. His funerary monument is still visible today, showing the coat of arms of the noble Dolfin family.

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