Pope Nicholas V: A Gold Ducat with His Coat of Arms
The ducat was a gold or silver coin used as a trade coin in Europe from the later Middle Ages until as late as the 20th century. Many types of ducats had various metallic content and purchasing power throughout the period.
Vatican ducats were coined in the papal mint from the year 1432. They were coins of Venetian origin that circulated with the florin, which was worth 6 shillings at that time. In 1531 the florin was succeeded by the scudo, a piece of French origin (écu) that remained the monetary unit of the Papal States.
This particular ducat bears the coat of arms of Pope Nicholas V on the obverse side, with his name along the right side of the coin.
On the reverse side is an image of Pope St. Peter holding the cross keys, the symbol of the papacy.
