Dukaat uit Venetië van de doge Alois Mocenigo I, 1570-1577 1570 - 1577

Curator: This is a Ducat from Venice, created during the reign of Doge Alois Mocenigo I, sometime between 1570 and 1577. Editor: The sheer gleam of it is immediately arresting. There's something so assertive about a gold coin—an ancient promise of wealth and power made tangible. Curator: Absolutely. Gold was often used for important or official symbols, evoking permanence and divine association, particularly in portraiture. We see two figures represented here. Editor: Tell me more about these figures. It’s clear even with the coin's small scale that one figure is superior. Curator: On the left, we see St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice, presenting a banner to Doge Mocenigo on the right. It’s a visual declaration of the Doge's legitimacy through divine sanction. Editor: What I find intriguing is the overt symbolism of authority – the visual language used to solidify power structures. Is there a critique implicit in its function as currency? Curator: Coins serve as propaganda, undeniably. This image disseminated not just monetary value but also political ideology— a constant reinforcement of the Venetian hierarchy and its connection to the divine. Editor: Considering Venice's complicated political landscape during the Renaissance, the choice of imagery suggests the state desired stability, perhaps as a strategic assertion against any internal discord. Curator: Venice, as a mercantile republic, certainly understood the power of image management and used these coins as a consistent branding exercise. It created its own myth through these repeated symbols. Editor: The persistent symbolism of the Venetian Republic and the Doge speaks volumes about cultural continuity and the conscious shaping of a lasting legacy. Curator: I agree; that is the brilliant utility of an emblem: compact, durable, but rich in symbolic communication. It speaks across boundaries and continues to reflect through our evolving modern narratives.