(sold for $353.0)

1595, Doges of Venice, Pasquale Cicogna. Gold Zecchino Ducat Coin. 3.45gm!

Mint period: 1585-1595
Denomination: Zecchino (Venetian Ducat)
Reference: CNI VII-206, Friedberg 1270. R!
Doge: Pasquale Cicogna (1585-1595) 88th Doge
Condition: Struck with rusty dies, minor marginal scratches, otherwise about XF!
Diameter: 20mm
Weight: 3.45gm
Material: Gold

Obverse: St. Mark standing right, presenting cross topped banner to kneeling Doge left.
Legend: . S . M . VENET / DVX (vertical) / . PASC . CICON .

Reverse: Christ standing facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels.
Comment: Halo of light (mandorla) with 17 stars around!
Legend: . SIT . T . XPE . DAT . Q . T . - REGIS . ISTE . DVCA .

For about a thousand years, the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice was styled the Doge (in ven. Doxe), a rare but not unique Italian title derived from the Latin Dux, as the major Italian parallel Duce and the English Duke. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city. The Venetian combination of elaborate monarchic pomp and a republican (though 'aristocratic') constitution with intricate checks and balances makes La serenissima Venice a textbook example of a crowned republic.

Pasquale Cicogna was the Doge of Venice from 1585 to 1595. He supported the claim of Henry of Navarre to the French throne, and convinced Pope Sixtus V to support Henry in exchange for his conversion to Catholicism.

He broke with tradition by scattering silver coins, rather than gold ducats, to the crowd during his coronation procession. These coins were known from then on as cicognini. As his reign of Doge continued his popularity increased because he was very diplomatic and able to tackle major problems with great success.

Arguably, one of his greatest successes was converting the Rialto Bridge, one of Venice's major landmarks and the only bridge over the Grand Canal of Venice, from wood to stone between 1588 and 1591. Although greater names such as Michelangelo had submitted designs, Pasquale chose the more humble architect Antonio da Ponte and his nephew Antonio Contin to design and rebuild the Rialto Bridge. After Pasquale Cicogna died of a fever in 1595 a memorial was in scribed on the bridge to the Doge. His dogaressa was Laura Morozini.