(sold for $67.0)

1280, Doges of Venice, Jacopo Contarini . Nice Medieval Silver Grosso Coin. VF+

Condition: VF+ Denomination: Grosso Mint period: 1275-1280 Reference: Paolucci-2; Mont-65. R! Doge: Jacopo Contarini (47th Doge of Venice, 1275-1280)  Diameter: 20mm Weight: 2.14gm Material: Silver

Obverse: Doge and S. Marco standing facing, holding banner between them. Legend: IA • 9TARIN  DVX • S • M • VENETI   Reverse: Christ seated facing on throne, wearing nimbus crown, pallium, and colobium. Comment: Christogram (IC-XC) at sides above.

In Eastern Christianity, the most widely used Christogram is a four-letter abbreviation, ΙϹ ΧϹ — a traditional abbreviation of the Greek words for "Jesus Christ" (i.e., the first and last letters of each of the words "ΙΗϹΟΥϹ ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ, with the lunate sigma "Ϲ" common in medieval Greek), and written with titlo (diacritic) denoting scribal abbreviation (І҃С Х҃С).   On icons, this Christogram may be split: "ΙϹ" on the left of the     image and "ΧϹ" on the right. It is sometimes rendered as "ΙϹ ΧϹ ΝΙΚΑ",     meaning "Jesus Christ Conquers." "ΙϹΧϹ" may also be seen inscribed on     the Ichthys. In the traditional icon of Christ Pantokrator, Christ's   right hand is shown in a pose where his fingers bend and cross to form   the letters ΙϹ, Χ, and Ϲ.

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Jacopo Contarini (1194-1280) was the 47th Doge of Venice, from 6 September 1275 to his abdication on 6 March 1280.

Although he came from one of the most illustrious Venetian families, Contarini was not considered an influential person and he was probably chosen as a compromise between the two major factions. Being already in his eighties and unable to face the position's challenges - a revolt in Istria and Crete and a war with Ancona - he abdicated as Doge after five years and retired to a monastery, where he died the same year. He was probably buried in the church of Frari. He was married to one Jacobina.

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