Ducat

The ducat - mentioned in much Early Modern English writing - was a gold coin. It was not issued in England or Scotland, but coins of this name, struck in other countries, circulated widely here. Those current in Holland, Russia, Austria and Sweden were regarded as equivalent to about 9/4 (nine shillings and four pence: see Pounds, shillings and pence for more detail). The Venetian ducat (or zecchino d'oro was valued at around 9 English shillings; the silver ducat minted in many Italian states was worth about 3/6. The first ducat was minted by the Duke of Apulia, Ruggiero (or Roger) II of Sicily in 1140.

Etymological note: The word ducat is the English version of the Latin ducatus, 'duchy', which Roger gave as the name of his new coin. It also formed part of the inscription of the Venetian gold ducat - although the word did not form the name of the coin in its native Venice.