Victoria Silver Groat Fair

Antonio Venier was Doge of Venice from 1382-1400. During the 18 years of his rule in Venice there were extraordinarily high waters, two plagues, numerous fires and disasters of various kinds, but through it all he showed great strength of character. These coins are small billon 1 Tornesello which were minted in Venice but designated for use in Crete. The obverse shows the winged lion of St. Mark with nimbus to the left, holding a book of Gospels with the legend VEXILIFER VENETIA. The reverse has a cross within a circle and the legend +ANTO’ VENERIO DVX. They grade Very Fine

In 2008, the Royal Mint introduced new reverse designs on our coinage. One of the most distinctive and memorable designs on the whole of our Decimal coinage was the Prince of Wales feathers on the Two Pence coin which had been struck every year since it was introduced in 1971. To mark the final use of this design on the Two Pence coin, the Royal Mint struck some in silver proof and it is these special coins that we offer you here, but we have a limited number available.

Born in 225 A.D, Gordian III became Roman Emperor at the age of 13, reigning from 238 to 244 AD. His ascension followed the chaotic Year of the Six Emperors. Despite his youth, Gordian III faced major challenges such as the Sassanian Empire’s incursions. Tragically, Gordian III died under suspicious circumstances at the age of 19, sparking speculation about possible foul play in the imperial court. These coins were struck in the ancient Bithynian city of Nicaea (now İznik, Turkey) which is famous for the council of Nicaea in 325 A.D by Constantine I which formed the basis for Christianity today. The coins have the legends in Greek with the bust of Gordian III on the obverse and three to four army standards on the reverse with the legend N-I-K-AI-EWN (Nicaea) between the standards.