The Ducat

The Ducat was the most well known and important trade coin before the emergence of modern currency. Though the Ducat is no longer in use as a currency today, there are many mints and banks in Europe that continue issuing Ducat to be traded as bullion coins, in particular the Ducat that is minted by the Royal Dutch Mint in Netherlands, which has garnered worldwide recognition.

The Ducat is thought of as originated during the reign of Roger II of Sicily, where the King coined Ducats bearing the figure of Christ and the inscription 'Sit tibi, Christe, datus, quem tu regis iste ducatus' (or roughly, "O Christ, let this duchy which you rule be dedicated to you." Since it was easy to mint, and it is a compact way to carry money as the coin is small, the coin later gain popularity during the Middle Ages, Many cities, principalities and countries during that era issued multiple, single and fractional ducats for trade.

Ducats eventually becomes the standard gold coin of Europe, especially after it received offical imperial sanction in 1566. The Ducat remain sanctioned until 1857.