The sequin (zecchino) is a
gold coin minted by the
Republic of Venice. The design of the coin remained relatively unchanged for more than 500 years, from its introduction in 1284 to the
fall of the Venetian Republic at the hands of
Napoleon on 12 May 1797. No other coin design has ever been produced over such a long historical period. This coin, with a face value of 50 zecchini, was minted between 1779 and 1789, during the reign of
Paolo Renier, the 119th and penultimate
doge of Venice. The coin has a diameter of 76 millimetres (3.0 in) and weighs 192.5 grams (6.79 oz), and forms part of the
National Numismatic Collection at the
Smithsonian Institution.Credit:
Zecca of Venice; photographed by
Andrew Shiva
The sequin (zecchino) is a
gold coin minted by the
Republic of Venice. The design of the coin remained relatively unchanged for more than 500 years, from its introduction in 1284 to the
fall of the Venetian Republic at the hands of
Napoleon on 12 May 1797. No other coin design has ever been produced over such a long historical period. This coin, with a face value of 50 zecchini, was minted between 1779 and 1789, during the reign of
Paolo Renier, the 119th and penultimate
doge of Venice. The coin has a diameter of 76 millimetres (3.0 in) and weighs 192.5 grams (6.79 oz), and forms part of the
National Numismatic Collection at the
Smithsonian Institution.Credit:
Zecca of Venice; photographed by
Andrew Shiva