Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 464 25 Mar 2020
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ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Enrico Dandolo. 1192-1205. AR Grosso (20mm, 1.89 g, 6h). + • H • DANDOL' to left; DVX down center; • S • M • VЄNЄTI to right, Doge and St. Mark standing facing, each holding banner between them / Christ enthroned facing; across field, IC XC, each with macron above. Cf. Grierson, Coins of Medieval Europe, p. 106; Paolucci 1 ; MEC 12, . Toned. Near VF. Very rare.
From the Richard A. Jourdan Collection of Medieval European Coins, purchased from Andy Singer, 2005.
During the early part of the Middle Ages, Venice remained neutral in the conflicts then happening in the Italian Peninsula between the Papacy, the Holy Roman Emperor, the Normans to the south, and the Byzantine Empire. As a result of this position, Venice was able to extend its economic primacy into the Adriatic and accumulate wealth and economic power through its establishment of exclusive trading rights in silk and spices that came from the East through the Levant and Egypt. In order to ward of any external threat to it, Venice constructed the Arsenale di Venezia, a massive complex of armories and shipyards. The Venetians became so well-known for their shipping that occasionally the Byzantine Empire hired the Venetian navy for its use. In return, Venice received extensive trading privileges within the Empire. This arrangement had long-ranging consequences for the Byzantine Empire, for Venice was becoming the Empire's main economic rival. This situation fuelled anti-Western hatred among the people of Constantinople, leading to a riot in 1182 against the Venetian enclave there. During the Fourth Crusade (1204), the Doge, Enrico Dandolo, used the inability of the Crusaders to pay for their Venetian transport to manipulate them into sacking and plundering Constantinople. As a result, Venice not only became extremely wealthy, due to receiving the largest portion of the spoils, but it also gained a firm foothold in strategic areas of the Aegean. Thus Venice became the only trading middleman between the West and East, best indicated by the 1221 trade agreement made between the Republic and the Mongol Empire.
From the Richard A. Jourdan Collection of Medieval European Coins, purchased from Andy Singer, 2005.
During the early part of the Middle Ages, Venice remained neutral in the conflicts then happening in the Italian Peninsula between the Papacy, the Holy Roman Emperor, the Normans to the south, and the Byzantine Empire. As a result of this position, Venice was able to extend its economic primacy into the Adriatic and accumulate wealth and economic power through its establishment of exclusive trading rights in silk and spices that came from the East through the Levant and Egypt. In order to ward of any external threat to it, Venice constructed the Arsenale di Venezia, a massive complex of armories and shipyards. The Venetians became so well-known for their shipping that occasionally the Byzantine Empire hired the Venetian navy for its use. In return, Venice received extensive trading privileges within the Empire. This arrangement had long-ranging consequences for the Byzantine Empire, for Venice was becoming the Empire's main economic rival. This situation fuelled anti-Western hatred among the people of Constantinople, leading to a riot in 1182 against the Venetian enclave there. During the Fourth Crusade (1204), the Doge, Enrico Dandolo, used the inability of the Crusaders to pay for their Venetian transport to manipulate them into sacking and plundering Constantinople. As a result, Venice not only became extremely wealthy, due to receiving the largest portion of the spoils, but it also gained a firm foothold in strategic areas of the Aegean. Thus Venice became the only trading middleman between the West and East, best indicated by the 1221 trade agreement made between the Republic and the Mongol Empire.