Ducat
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2008-07-01T16:10:27Z
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added merchant
[[image:Gouden dukaat 1974-voorzijde.jpg|thumb|A Dutch ducat minted in 1974.]]
The '''ducat''' ({{IPAEng|ˈdʌkət}}) is a [[gold coin]] that was used as a trade currency throughout Europe before [[World War I]]. Its weight is 3.4909 grams of .986 gold, which is 0.1107 [[troy ounce]], [[AGW]], [[actual gold weight]].
==History==
The first issue of this coin is thought to have been under [[Roger II of Sicily]], who, in 1140, coined ducats bearing the figure of Christ, and the inscription, 'Sit tibi, Christe, datus, quem tu regis iste ducatus' (or roughly, "O Christ, let this duchy which you rule be dedicated to you." This seems to be a reference to {{bibleverse||Matthew|22:19-21|KJV}}).
[[Image:Gold-Dukaten-KFJ.jpg|thumb|Austrian Gold-Dukaten depicting Kaiser Franz-Josef, c. 1910]]
The ducat was introduced by the [[Republic of Venice]] in [[1284]] under the [[doge of Venice|doge]] [[Giovanni Dandolo]] (1280-1289). The Venetian ducat, called ''[[sequin (coin)|zecchino]]'', featured the Doge kneeling before [[St. Mark]] on the obverse and [[Jesus]] on the reverse. During the [[Middle Ages]] the ducat gained much popularity, as it was easy to mint, and packed quite a value in one relatively small coin. Several cities and small states in Europe – mostly Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages – issued multiple, single and fractional ducats. The standard of coin was adopted in [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungary]]; and for a long time all foreign coins bore the name ''Ongri'', [[Italian language|Italian]] for "[[Hungarian people|Hungarian]]", where the trade of the world at this period was concentrated. They did not become popular in Germany until a later date.
The [[Golden Bull of 1356|Golden Bull]] of [[Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles IV]] gave to all members of the empire the privilege of issuing gold coins, with any stamp they chose; but these were only gold guilders, equivalent to the [[Florin (English coin)|florin]].
Ducats became a standard gold coin throughout Europe, especially after it was officially imperially sanctioned in 1566. The ducat remained sanctioned until 1857. To make it more confusing there was also a silver ducat minted in many European nations. The [[Royal Dutch Mint]] still issues silver ducats with a weight of 28.25 grams.
The most common type of ducat were the old Dutch ducats, bearing the impression of an armed figure, which gave way, for a short time only, to the figure of [[Louis II of Flanders]]. They circulated almost as merchandise, but had been frequently counterfeited in the [[Grisons]]. The counterfeits were very good in appearance, both in weight and sound.
According to 1913 Webster the ducat was worth the equivalent of "nine shillings and four pence sterling, or somewhat more than two dollars. The silver ducat is of about half this value." The ducat itself was worth an amount of money, but it was not written down in other denominations, such as its exact worth in German marks, dollars or any other currency of that time.
The production of ducats as trade coins continued after [[World War I]] by some nations, namely [[Czechoslovakia]] and [[The Netherlands]]. Even now some national mints produce batches of ducats made after old patterns as [[bullion]] gold and banks sell these coins to private investors or collectors.
==Ducat mints==
{{Coin image box 1 double
| header = [[Roger II of Sicily]]
| image = Image:Scifato ducale .jpg
| caption_left = +IC XC RC IN ÆTRN, nimbate bust of [[Christ]] facing, holding [[Gospel]]s
| caption_right = R•R SLS, King Roger and, R•DX•AP, Duke Roger (son of Roger) standing facing, holding long cross between them; AN R X along staff of cross.
| width = 300
| footer = AG: [[scyphate]] ''ducalis'' or ''ducatum''
| position = right
| margin = 0
}}
* [[Austria]] The Austrian mint still mints single and four-ducats, both dated [[1915]].
* [[Czechoslovakia]]
* [[Denmark]]
* [[Germany]] many German cities, states and principalities before [[1871]].
** [[Augsburg]]
** [[Hamburg]] many Hanseatic cities issued their own ducats.
** [[Saxony]]
* [[Hungary]] The Hungarian mint still mints commemorative coins with 2, 3, 4 and 6-ducats quality.
* [[Italy]].
** [[Duchy of Milan]]
** [[Papal States]]
** [[Duchy of Savoy]]
** [[Kingdom of the Two Sicilies]]
** [[Duchy of Urbino]]
** [[Republic of Venice]]
** [[Republic of Genoa]]
* [[The Netherlands]] issues still golden and silver ducats having the same weight, composite and design when they were first minted in [[1589]].
* [[Gdańsk]]
* [[Romania]]
** [[Transylvania]]
* [[Russia]] imitated [[Netherlands|Dutch]] ducats due to their popularity. Also issued small quantities of Russian design.
* [[Scotland]]
* [[Spain]], all through its domains, including Flanders, the Kingdom of Napoli and the Americas.
* [[Sweden]]
* [[Switzerland]] Before the Swiss unification, the Swiss also minted Ducats. The most well known are the [[Zurich]] ducats.
* [[Yugoslavia]]
==Miscellaneous==
*The name ''ducat'' is derived from the [[Latin]] for ''[[duke]]''.
*The term "ducat" is still used today as slang for a unit of currency (in the lyrics to "I Ain't The One," [[Ice Cube]] of the rap group [[N.W.A]] rhymes, "He's gettin juiced for his ducats/I tell a girl in a minute yo, I drive a bucket")
*Ducats were often used as 'Good Luck' coins or [[Touch Pieces]].
*[[Ducados]] was a brand of Spanish cigarettes. The packet sported a stylized drawing of a ''ducado'' coin.
*The [[Brobdingnagian Bards]] are popular for their song, "[http://www.thebards.net/music/lyrics/If_I_Had_A_Million_Ducats.shtml If I Had a Million Ducats]," which parodies the [[Barenaked Ladies]]' song, "[[If I Had $1000000]]."
*Ducats are the currency of Mantua in Shakespeare's [[Romeo and Juliet]] and also frequently referred to in [[The Merchant of Venice]].
*It was in the Merchant of Venice that Antonio's good names was used as credit for the loan of 3000 ducats from Shylock to Bassino.
==External links==
{{Wiktionary}}
{{commons}}
*[http://www.omnicoin.com/news/Default.aspx?tabid=52 OmniCoin The Ducat]
*[http://knm-en.live.ism.nl/sanashop_v2/knm/pages/detail.asp?content=11720000000360_2_11650000000012 Silver Ducat] issued by the [[Royal Dutch Mint]]
[[Category:Coins]]
[[Category:Gold coins]]
[[Category:Numismatics]]
[[Category:Medieval currencies]]
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