Watch List notes:

ITALY. Venice. Francesco Donato, 1545-1553. Ducat (Gold, 21 mm, 3.46 g, 5 h), 80th Doge. FRAN• DON - •S• M• VENET• / DVX Francesco Donato, kneeling to left, grasping long, cross-tipped scepter handed to him by St. Mark, standing right before him. Rev. SIT• T• XPE• DAT•Q•TV - REGIS ISTE DVCAT Christ standing facing in mandorla with eleven stars, five on the left and six on the right side. Friedberg 1250. Gamberini 338. Paolucci 1. Slightly wavy flan, otherwise, good very fine.


The ducats of Francesco Donato were heavily and closely copied in the east Mediterranean area, especially by the Maona of Chios.