Coins of the Republic of Venice

The monetary reform of Charlemagne (748–814) in the Frankish state , which included the Republic of Venice, established a monetary system according to which 1 pound was divided into 20 solid (shillings), each of which, in turn, was divided into 12 denarii . Thus, 240 denarii should be minted from 1 pound of silver ^[1] . The appearance of the new denarius has completely changed. The obverse contained a cross in the center and a circular inscription “CARLVS REX FR [ANCORVM]”. On the reverse in the center was the monogram of Charlemagne, and in a circle - the designation of the city in which this coin was minted ^[1] . After the collapse of the Carolingian Empire into several kingdoms, denarii continued to be minted on their territories. For a long time, the shilling and the pound remained countable and weight units, since no real coins of this denomination were issued. Until the 13th century, only denarius and their derivatives were in circulation ^{[2] [3]} .

The first surviving coin, which can be identified by the inscription “VENECIAS”, is dated to 819–822 years, the reign of Louis I the Pious ^[4] . In subsequent years, a large number of denarii were minted in Venice, some of which had a designation of the place of issue, and some were not. On the whole, their appearance and feature of coinage did not differ from similar coins of other Western European cities ^[5] .

In 924, the King of Burgundy, Rudolph II, gave the right to Doge Orso II to begin independent production of Venetian coins. It should be noted that not a single denarius of Venice has been preserved indicating the rulers of the described time ^[6] .

In the XII century, the main monetary unit of the Republic of Venice was silver denarius . In 1172, during the reign of Doge Sebastiano Dziani (1172–1178), imitations of the Verona denarii, which had the same value with them, began to be issued. The new coins were called piccolos ^{[7] [8] [9]} . They weighed less than 0.5 g and contained 20% silver and 80% copper ^{[10] [11]} . The old denarii were not demonetized , but began to correspond to ½ piccolo ^[12] .

Enrico Dandolo became a doge at 85 years old. Despite his advanced age, he carried out a number of reforms during his reign. Amendments to the legal proceedings and the publication of the first collection of laws led to the formation of the rule of law . In the international arena, Dandolo strengthened the position of the Venetian Republic by concluding a series of treaties with Verona , Treviso , the Aquilean patriarch , the king of the Cilician Armenian state , the Byzantine and Holy Roman empires . The elderly doge paid much attention to the development of trade. Given the discrepancy in money circulation in the Byzantine Empire and in the lands of the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the pan-European tendency to introduce large silver coins into circulation, a monetary system emerged under Dandolo in Venice, which suggested the issuance of four types of coins - a grosso, called matsopan or “grosso matapan” ”, Piccolo , bianco and quartarolo ^{[13] [14] [12]} .

From one brand of silver, 109 ¹ ⁄ ₃ —109½ matapanes were minted. They contained the image of the Doge, receiving from the hands of the Apostle Mark the ducal banner, on the obverse, and the statue of Christ on the reverse ^{[15] [16]} . Each coin weighed 2.2 g. It should be emphasized that for their release high-grade silver of 985 samples was used. Its greater purification from impurities at the indicated time was impossible to achieve ^[7] . Initially, the new coins were intended to be traded in the territories east of Venice. This explains the use of the Byzantine ^[17] as a prototype. Unlike its eastern counterpart, matapans were minted in pure silver, not electrum . Also, their surface was smooth, not convex. The ribbed edge of the coin avoided the imperceptible trimming of its edges. Thus, calculations in matapan could be made on the basis of their quantity, and not weight, as Byzantine counterparts ^[17] . The ratio of grosso matapan and silver piccolo was 1 to 26–27 ^[18] . Such a course was very uncharacteristic for medieval Europe. Perhaps the initial cost of matapan was 24 denarius, which did not correspond to the market exchange rate for the exchange of a relatively large and widespread trading coin, which was matapan, to a local and low-grade piccolo. In order to avoid re-melting and removing the gross-matapan from circulation, they began to exchange it according to the real rather than the nominal value ratio ^[19] .

The exact time of minting new coins has not been reliably determined. The descendant of Enrico Andrea Dandolo in the description of the 4th Crusade and the actions of his ancestor indicates that the decree on the minting of the Matapan was signed in 1194. Another Venetian historian, Marino Sanudo, Jr. dates this event to 1192. The 13th-century Italian historian , author of The History of Venice, indicates that large silver coins were issued in 1202, before troops were sent to conquer Constantinople ^[14] . The first mention of these currency units dates back to 1202 ^[20] . Regardless of the initial year of release, the increase in matapan production immediately before the start of the 4th Crusade (1202-1204) is undoubtedly ^[14] . This was due to the need for a voiced coin to finance the army. About the number of minted matapan is evidenced by a modern estimate, according to which more than 2000 kilograms of silver were minted into new coins only during the reign of Dandolo ^[21] .

Under Enrico Dandolo, a quarterarolo equal to _1⁄4 piccolo was first coined in the state ^[12] . Although in a number of monographs quartarolo is called a billon coin ^{[22] [23]} , that is, minted from base silver, the content in them of only ³ ⁄ ₁₀₀₀ parts of the noble metal allows them to be attributed to copper coins ^[24] . The introduction of the Quartarolo was revolutionary for the monetary circulation of medieval Europe. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, they became the first banknotes whose face value exceeded the value of the metal contained in them ^[25] . Along with matapan, piccolo and quartarolo, Enrico Dandolo began to mint Bianco coins equal to ½ piccolo weighing 0.61 g from 50 base silver ^{[14] [12]} .

During the early Middle Ages in the western and northern parts of Europe, gold coins were no longer minted. The reason for this was both insufficient gold mining and a decrease in its receipt from the countries of the Middle East and North Africa captured by the Arabs. A small number of gold coins that circulated in Europe, in most cases, were Byzantine solids , which were called "Besantes" or "Byzantines" ^[26] . “Bezanths” were not money with strictly defined weight characteristics and the amount of gold contained in them ^[27] . The lack of a full-fledged gold monetary unit created a number of difficulties in trade between various European countries.

The situation changed after the start of the Crusades . A large amount of precious metal began to flow into European countries. Its source was both the looted wealth of the conquered peoples, and the resumption of trade relations with the Maghreb . The largest center for gold mining of the Middle Ages Bamboo was located in this region. The intensification of international trade required the availability of banknotes of large denominations. Common silver pennies and pfennigs common at the time described did not satisfy the needs of the merchants. The most developed trading city-states began to mint their own gold coins. In 1252, “Fiorino d'oro” was issued in Florence (from the Italian “fiore” - a flower) ^[28] , which became the ancestor of the monetary units “ florin ” and “ guilder ”. The gold coin of another trading state, Genoa , genovino ^{[29] is} not widespread.

The prosperous Venetian Republic did not stand aloof from European trends and in 1284 began to mint its own gold coins, which became the first ducats ^{[30] [31]} .

In 1284, a gold coin was issued in Venice , copying the Florentine florin by weight, but having an original appearance. On the obverse was depicted Christ in mandorl, on the reverse - a kneeling doge, taking the banner from the hands of St. Mark. The circular legend “Sit tibi Christe datus, quem tu regis iste ducatus ” (“This is a duchy, by which you rule, Christ is dedicated to you”) and led to the name “ducat” ^{[31] [30]} . Subsequently, when the imitations of this coin appeared in other European countries, the name Ciechin ( Italian: zecchino ) from Italian was assigned to the Venetian gold . zecca - the mint ^[32] . They with constant weight characteristics and gold content were produced for five centuries until the Venetian Republic ceased to exist in 1797 ^[33] .

In the described time, the Republic of Venice became one of the most powerful states in the Mediterranean and medieval Europe. It included Vicenza , Verona , Padua , Friuli , Brescia , Bergamo , the Ionian Islands , Cyprus , Peloponnese and other lands. The state was rich, powerful, inspired fear in its neighbors, had prosperous trade and industry ^[34] .

A large number of precious metals passing through Venice had to be minted into local currency. In 1332, during the reign of the Doge Francesco Dandolo (1329–1339), two new currency units were issued - soldo and mezzanino ^{[35] [36]} . Soldo, in essence, was the Italian name for shilling and, by definition, was equal to 12 denarii. Mezzanino, in turn, was equated to ½ grosso matapan, or 16 denarii, according to the ratio of that time ^[35] . In 1335, they ceased to function as a means of payment quartarolo (¼ denarius) and bianco (½ denarius) ^[37] .

The issue of 1332 was revolutionary for the monetary circulation of medieval Europe. Old monetary units, grosso and ducats, continued circulation along with new ones. Soldos became the first coins in denominations of 12 denarii. Prior to this, since the time of Charlemagne, for five centuries, shilling has been the monetary unit of account ^[38] . Venice also abandoned the practice of minting coins made of pure silver ^[38] . The first soldos contained 0.957 g of silver of the 670th sample ^[36] .

The image on the coins was also new. On the obverse of the first Venetian mezzanines was a doge with a banner with a cross, on the reverse - the apostle Mark ^{[39] [40]} . Soldos contained an image of a kneeling doge on one side and a lion of St. Mark on the other ^[41] . The issue of soldo had a significant impact on the monetary circulation of Europe, becoming a prototype for the shillings of various countries ^[42] . They were minted in huge quantities for that time. So, in 1334, these coins were issued from 43,300 marks of silver ^[43] . The chasing of a mezzanino, like ½ grosso, was discontinued in 1335 ^[44] . Subsequent issues, which had the name mezzanino, were a soldo , and the name was due to their similarity with their prototypes ^[45] .

In 1472, the “ lira ” was first minted as a real coin, which until then had been a unit of account equal to 20 shillings (soldo). The image of the doge on the coin caused analogies with the monarchy and the discontent of the republican circles. After the death of Nicolo Trono in 1473, the release of portrait lyre and bagatino was discontinued. Under his successor, Pietro Mocenigo began to mint lyres with the image of a doge kneeling before the Apostle Mark. This coin type was issued from 1474 to 1575. It was called the lyre of Mochenigo ^[46] . Although the Tron lira itself was minted for only two years, it was essential for Italy's monetary circulation, as it became a role model for silver coins of other Italian states ^[47] .

In addition to soldo, lira, denarii and ducats, many coins of multiple denominations were issued in Venice. 2 Soldiers received the popular name " gazette " ( Italian: gazzetta ). The first newspapers were minted in 1539 from base silver billon ^{[48] [49]} . Newspapers continuously minted until the middle of the 17th century ^{[48] [49]} . Coins of multiple denominations in 2, 3, 4 and 10 newspapers were also issued. 10 newspapers received the name Lirona , or Lirazza ^{[48] [49]} . Initially, the obverse contained an image of a doge kneeling before the apostle Mark, and the reverse contained an image of Jesus Christ. In the XVII century, the Venetian lion ^{[48] [49]} began to be placed on the obverse. Venice minted large newspapers for the Levant ^{[48] [49]} . Venetian newspaper of veins. La gazeta deleting novità (literally “News on the newspaper”) was sold for one newspaper ^[50] . The denomination of this coin gave the name not only to the Venetian, but to all subsequent newspapers ^{[48] [49] [51]} through the name of the first weekly newspaper “ La Gazette ”, which was published in Paris since 1631 by the physician Renodo with the support of Cardinal Richelieu ^[52] .

Bagatino, bagateno ( Italian. Bagattino , Italian. Bagateno from Italian. Bagatto - a trifle) - originally the popular name for a small silver denarius ( piccolo ) in northern Italy ^[53] . It is first mentioned in 1274 as the monetary unit of Padua ^[53] . Initially, ¹ ⁄ ₂₀ gross aquilino appeared ^[54] . Subsequently, it was incorporated into the monetary system of the Italian states. In Venice, 6 bagatino made up one bezzo or betzone , 12 bagatino - soldo ^[55] . Originally Bagatino was a silver coin, later they began to be minted from copper. Of particular note is the Venetian bagatino during the reign of Doge Nicolo Trono, as one of two (second lira Tron ) portrait coins of the Republic of Venice ^[54] .

Marcello ( ital. Marcello ) - the Venetian silver coin face value in half a lira . It was released during the reign of the Doge Nicolo Marcello (1473–1474) in whose honor it got its name ^[56] . With a total weight of 3.26 g, it contained 3.06 g of pure silver ^{[56] [57] [58]} . It was originally equivalent to 10 soldos . In the 20s of the XVI century, it first began to correspond to 10 ½, and then 12 soldos ^[58] . The chasing of marcello continued until 1550 ^[58] . The obverse of the coin contained an image of the Doge kneeling before the Apostle Mark, the reverse - Jesus Christ ^{[56] [57]} .

Justina ( ital. Giustina ) - the name of several silver coins on the reverse of which depicts Saint Justina of Padua . For the first time, three coin denominations (40, 20 and 10 soldi ) with the image of a doge kneeling before the Apostle Mark on the obverse and St. Justina on the reverse were minted in 1472 during the reign of Nicolo Trono (1471–1473) ^{[59] [60]} . Justina with a face value of 40 soldos had a weight of 9.04 g with a content of 8.569 g of pure silver ^[61] . By order of the Doge, Nicolo da Ponte (1578-1585), two large commemorative coins were minted:

• Justina Maggiore ( Italian: giustina maggiore ) - face value of 160 soldi or 8 Venetian lira weighing 36.38 g with a content of 34.488 g of pure silver ^{[59] [60] [61]} ;
• Justina Minore ( Italian: giustina minore ) - with a face value of 124 soldi or 6 Venetian lyres and 4 soldi weighing 28.103 g with a content of 26.64 g of pure silver ^{[59] [60] [61]} .

All these coins have a denomination indicated in the reverse soldier under the image of the saint ^{[59] [60] [61]} . Subsequently, Justina Minore became the prototype for silver coins with a face value of 124 soldi, which were called the silver ducat or ducatone ^[61] .

Особо выделяют донативную монету озеллу . Название происходит от итал. uccello — птица. С XIII столетия венецианские дожи делали новогодние подарки ратманам города. Первоначально им презентовали диких воробьёв , впоследствии деньги. С 1521 года для этих целей стали чеканить крупные серебряные, а в редких случаях и золотые монеты, которые и получили название «озеллы» ^{[62] [63]} . На аверсе чаще всего помещали изображение коленопреклонённого перед апостолом Марком дожа. Реверс монет за более чем 250-летнюю историю выпуска содержал различные надписи и изображения. Вес озеллы составлял 9,8 г при содержании 9,3 г чистого серебра ^{[62] [63]} . Сначала монета стоила 33 сольдо . По мере их порчи к 1734 году озелла стала эквивалентной 78 сольдо ^{[62] [63]} . Таким образом она являлась , то есть такой, стоимость которой зависела от содержания в ней благородного металла ^{[63] [64]} . Последняя озелла была отчеканена в 1796 году ^[63] .

Колониальные деньги

29 марта 1353 года венецианское правительство начало рассматривать вопрос о введении новой денежной единицы для нужд торговли в своих колониях. Было принято решение о выпуске нового сольдо весом 0,55 г ( ¹ ⁄ ₄₃₂ марки весом 238,5 г) с содержанием 0,53 г чистого серебра. Новые монеты должны были содержать меньшее количество благородного металла по сравнению со старым венецианским сольдо. При этом широкого распространения они не получили ^[65] . Вскоре была введена ещё одна денежная единица. Целью выпуска была замена широко распространённых турских грошей , от которых они и получили название «торнезелло». Вес новой монеты составил 0,75 г ( ¹ ⁄ ₃₂₀ венецианской марки ) при содержании 0,08 г ( ¹ ⁄ ₉ часть) чистого серебра. На законодательном уровне курс обмена был установлен в ¹ ⁄ ₄ сольдо или 3 пикколо ^[66] . Содержание серебра в 4 торнезелло (0,33 г) было значительно меньшим по сравнению с новым сольдо (0,53 г), что делало новое подражание турского гроша значительно переоценённой монетой ^[66] .

Торнезелло были также значительно переоценены и относительно гроссо. К примеру, в 1361 году один гроссо приравнивали к 32 пикколо, в то время как он содержал в 21 раз больше серебра по сравнению с торнезелло. Таким образом, стоимость металла, содержащегося в монете, составляла около 1,5 пикколо ( ³² ⁄ ₂₀ ), в то время как его заставляли принимать к оплате по цене 3 пикколо ^[67] . Это обусловило привлекательность для венецианского правительства чеканки торнезелло. Так, в 1375 году было выпущено 5 840 000 монет, а в 1386 — 4 160 000 ^[68] .

Суммарно торнезелло чеканили около 200 лет с 1353 по 1555 год. С самого начала они являлись переоцененными денежными единицами. Венеция на законодательном уровне запретила их использование на территории метрополии и установила фиксированные обменные курсы в своих колониях. Это привело к стимулированию инфляционных процессов на греческих территориях, подконтрольных Венецианской республике ^[69] . Согласно закону Грешема «худшие деньги вытесняют лучшие» торнезелло стали наиболее частыми в обращении монетами ^[70] . Процесс их выпуска из-за их переоценённости был очень выгодным для центрального правительства. Ежегодно миллионы новых торнезелло поступали на рынок, усиливая негативные экономические последствия в греческих колониях Венеции ^[71] . При официальном курсе 1 сольдо = 4 торнезелло реальный коммерческий установился на уровне 1 сольдо = 6 торнезелло ^[71] .

После завоевания Османской империей большинства венецианских колоний дальнейший выпуск торнезелло стал нецелесообразным и в 1555 году был прекращён ^[72] .

Во время упадка Венецианской республики на её территории чеканили разнообразные денежные единицы. Номиналы серебряных монет в большинстве случаев указывали в сольдо. Серебряные аналоги дукатов — дукатоне и дукато — соответствовали 124 сольдо, что и было обозначено на монетах. Также в конце XVI столетия в обороте появился венецианский или «крестовый» скудо . Первые крестовые скудо представляли собой большие серебряные монеты талерового типа весом в 31,83 г при содержании 30,173 г чистого серебра ^{[73] [74]} . Названием монета обязана своему виду. Одна сторона содержала изображение цветочного креста. Круговая надпись указывает во время правления какого из дожей отчеканена монета. На обратной стороне расположен щит ( лат. scutum ) со львом святого Марка ^{[73] [74]} . По номиналу венецианский скудо соответствовал 7 лирам или 140 сольдо (1 лира = 20 сольдо), что непосредственно указано на монете. Также выпускали кратные номиналы в ½, ¼ и ¹ ⁄ ₈ скудо ^[75] . Кроме серебряных скудо в республике с середины XVII столетия выпускали их золотые аналоги со схожим изображением ^{[76] [77]} . Два золотых скудо получили название « доппия » ^[78]

Кроме крупных серебряных монет для местного пользования в больших количествах чеканили торговые монеты для использования в Леванте (название области восточного Средиземноморья ) ^[79] . К ним относят леоне , получившие название из-за изображения льва святого Марка в прыжке ^{[79] [80]} и таллеро . Последние представляли собой низкопробные подражания австрийскому талеру Марии Терезии ^{[81] [82] [83]} . Попытка их внедрения и вытеснения ставшего эталоном талера Марии Терезии не увенчалась успехом ^[83] .

Наряду с серебряными монетами чеканили золотые скудо, их производные доппии, а также цехины различных номиналов.

В 1797 году Венецианская республика прекратила своё существование, после того, как город был занят войсками Наполеона Бонапарта. По Кампо-Формийскому мирному договору некогда могущественное государство было разделено между вассальной от Франции Цизальпинской республикой и монархией Габсбургов ^[34] .

В марте 1848 года в Венеции вспыхнуло восстание. Австрийские войска капитулировали, вслед за чем последовало провозглашение . Революционное правительство не смогло обеспечить должный порядок и обороноспособность государства. В августе 1849 года в город вошли австрийские войска под руководством Йозефа Радецкого ^[34] .

За 1,5 года существования в республике наладили выпуск монет. Была принята десятичная денежная система . 1 венецианская лира соответствовала 100 чентезимо . В 1848—1849 годах отчеканили медные 1, 3 и 5 чентезимо, серебряные 15 и 25 чентезимо, а также два типа монет номиналом в 5 лир. Также небольшим тиражом в 5210 экземпляров по весовым характеристикам наполеондора (6,4516 г золота 900-й пробы) отчеканили 20 лир ^[84] .

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