Watch List notes:

CRUSADERS. Venetians in the Levant. Ducat (Gold, 21 mm, 3.46 g, 3 h), Uncertain mint. Struck in the name of Andrea Dantolo, 1344-1354, 'K' Series. ANDR DANDVLO - S M VENETI Doge kneeling left, grasping long, cross-tipped scepter handed to him by St. Mark, standing right before him. Rev. SIT T XPE DATOTD V - K SISI STE DVCAT Christ standing facing in mandorla with nine stars. Gamberini 344 (under Robert d´Anzou). Ives pl. XIII. CNI VII 37 (for type). Good very fine.


The 'K' Series ducats named after the letter K located in reverse inscription, near Jesus´s feet, were struck in the area of Asia Minor, possibly Smyrna prior to 1435 (based on hoard evidence). The type saw rapid debasement to a rather pale electrum.