Venice

Leonardo Dona, Doge of Venice 1606-1612

Fr-1278, PCGS-graded MS-64

Obverse depicts St. Mark standing right presenting banner to kneeling Doge. On the reverse Christ standing facing within stars, holding the gospel and raising hand in benediction. Boldly struck with a charming obverse image of the kneeling doge.

Leonrdo Dona continued the policy of ignoring the Vatican’s wishes and for this, the entire city of Venice was excommunicated. Note how society had changed in a few hundred years. Earlier, excommunication would have been a disaster. In 1606, the priests in Venice continued to celebrate mass.