← Explore on the interactive map

Early Venetian Silver Coinage System

Type Object Region Venice Time 1101–1300

Venice's early silver coinage system was based on the denaro, standardized in the 12th–13th centuries alongside the city-state's maritime trade expan…

Timeline

  1. 1101–1200Venice · Republic of VeniceIn the 12th century the Republic of Venice unified the minting of the denaro silver coin, regulating weight and silver content, using the authority of the city-state mint to support daily transactions and small payments, replacing the assorted old coins in circulation in various places.
  2. 1204–1300Crete and Aegean ports · Venetian coloniesAfter the Fourth Crusade Venice expanded its Eastern Mediterranean holdings, and the denaro silver coin spread with merchant ships and colonial administration to Crete and the Aegean islands. Around 1211 the silver coin circulated alongside the Byzantine hyperpyron gold coin, supporting daily settlement of the spice and silk trade.
  3. 1284–1300Venice · Republic of VeniceAfter Venice issued the high-purity gold ducat in 1284, the silver and gold systems formed a hierarchical division of labor: gold for large-value long-distance trade, the denaro continuing in retail and small tariff collection, making the composite currency structure more mature.

Sources