Category 5. The Florin & Ducat: The Birth of European Gold Currencies (1252–1284 CE)

1000 Years of Gold: The Medieval Origins of the Gold Standard, 5. The Florin & Ducat: The Birth of European Gold Currencies (1252–1284 CE), Gold, Part 2: The Medieval Gold Coinage Boom (1100–1500 CE)

How The Florin & Ducat became the global trade standard

By the 14th century, the Florentine florin (1252) and the Venetian ducat (1284) had established themselves as the most trusted gold coins in Europe. Their consistent weight, high gold purity, and acceptance in international markets made them the gold standard…

Ming-Chih
February 23, 2025

1000 Years of Gold: The Medieval Origins of the Gold Standard, 5. The Florin & Ducat: The Birth of European Gold Currencies (1252–1284 CE), Gold, Part 2: The Medieval Gold Coinage Boom (1100–1500 CE)

The Florin (1252, Florence) and Ducat (1284, Venice) as the first widely accepted European gold coins

By the 13th century, Europe was experiencing an economic transformation. The Crusades had reopened trade routes with the Middle East and North Africa, and gold was once again flowing into Europe. The influence of Middle Eastern gold coins, particularly the…

Ming-Chih
February 22, 2025