GREECE. Chios. Maona of Chios and Phocaea, 1346-1566. Zecchino (Gold, 21 mm, 3.53 g, 12 h), imitating a Venetian Ducato, struck in the name of Andrea Dandolo (1342-1354). AZDR DAZDVO - S N VЄNЄTI St. Mark standing left, holding book of Gospels in his left hand and presenting banner inscribed DVX to doge; kneeling and raising his head toward the Saint. Rev. •ƧTI T ΛRЄ DΛT CIQ - VIC DΛЄET C DVDΛT Christ, nimbate, standing facing in mandorla with nine stars, raising his right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in his left. Cf. CNI VII 37 (for prototype). Gamberini 344 (Robert de Taranto). Fresh and well preserved. Somewhat rough on the obverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

The attribution of these imitative ducats has long been debated. Lambros traditionally assigned them to Robert of Anjou-Taranto, Prince of Achaea (1346-1364), an attribution subsequently followed by Gamberini and others. More recent scholarship, however, has moved away from the Achaean attribution, with the available numismatic and historical evidence pointing instead toward an eastern origin (cf. J. Baker: Coinage and Money in Medieval Greece 1200-1430, II, pp. 1315-1317). Thus, the traditional attribution to Robert of Taranto and the mint of Chiarenza should be treated with caution, with Chios or a mint on the western coast of Asia Minor providing more plausible origins for the various imitations of Andrea Dandolo