Coin - Soldino of Michele Steno

The Soldino Coin: A Silver Thread Through Venetian Commerce

The Soldino was a small silver coin first minted in Venice in 1332 under the rule of Doge Francesco Dandolo. Its name derives from "soldo," which originally meant "solidus," the name of a late Roman gold coin. Over time, the term came to signify a variety of silver and copper denominations used across Italy.

The Soldino was a lightweight silver coin, originally worth 12 denari piccoli (or 1/20 of a Venetian lira). It was introduced as part of the wider Venetian effort to provide smaller, practical coinage for everyday transactions, complementing the heavier and more prestigious ducats and grosso coins.

Widespread Use and Influence

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Soldino gained wide acceptance not only in the Republic of Venice but also in other Italian city-states and beyond, due to Venice’s extensive trade networks across the Mediterranean and into Europe. Its compact size and stable silver content made it especially useful in commercial dealings and helped reinforce Venetian economic dominance.

Due to its success, several Italian cities and even foreign powers minted their own versions or imitations of the Soldino, adapting it to local standards. This adaptability helped solidify its role in the broader numismatic landscape of late medieval and early Renaissance Europe.

Design and Variations

The typical Soldino featured an image of the Doge of Venice kneeling before St. Mark, the city’s patron saint, who in turn presents a banner—a scene also familiar from the grosso coins. The reverse often depicted Christ within a mandorla, a traditional iconographic motif in Venetian coinage.

One notable variant came under the rule of Doge Michele Steno (1400–1413). His Soldino coins retain the core iconography but show subtle stylistic changes that reflect both the art and politics of the period.

Legacy

Though eventually supplanted by newer coinage systems and devalued over time, the Soldino played a critical role in facilitating small-scale trade and maintaining Venice’s monetary stability for nearly two centuries. Its legacy lives on in numismatic collections and the study of medieval commerce.

Collectors today value the Soldino not only for its silver content but also for its elegant design and historical significance—offering a tangible link to the mercantile power and artistic refinement of the Venetian Republic.