Bagattino Coin: The Small Change of Medieval Italy

Illustrated Specimen Details: 6 Bagattini

Example Specimen: 6 Bagattini, 1619 (Republic of Venice)

Authority & Identification: This copper fractional coin was issued by the Republic of Venice. The obverse features a traditional depiction of the Madonna and Child, flanked by the letters R C L A. This is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase "Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia" ("Queen of Heaven Rejoice Alleluia"), the opening line of a 13th-century musical antiphon used in the Catholic liturgy during the Easter season. The reverse displays a portrait of Saint Mark the Evangelist — the patron saint of Venice — accompanied by the legend SAN MARC VEN. Notably, the name of the denomination is not spelled out; instead, only the numerical value "6" [bagattini] is prominently displayed. While the coin itself bears no date (ND), numismatic catalogs attribute this specific issue to the year 1619.

1. REPUBLIC OF VENICE & OVERSEAS POSSESSIONS (Croatian cities: Zara, Trogir, Šibenik, Hvar), 15th-17th centuries: 12 bagattini = 1 soldo
2. ITALIAN STATES (Duchy of Modena and Reggio, Mantua, Ferrara, etc.): bagattino

BAGATTINO (plural: bagattini) as coin name. The term "bagattino" originates from the Italian word "bagattella," which literally translates to "a trifle" or "a thing of little value" (ultimately derived from the Latin baca, meaning "small berry"). This name perfectly reflected its purchasing power. In the Venetian accounting system, 12 bagattini were equal to 1 soldo. The 6-bagattini coin was commonly referred to as a bezzo (and later, in the 17th century, a bezzone).

Historical and Economic Context

From Silver Denaro to Copper Bagattino

The bagattino emerged during the late Middle Ages (13th–14th centuries) as an evolution of the traditional denaro. Initially, these were small silver coins known as the "small denaro" (denaro piccolo). Over time, the terms piccolo and bagattino were used interchangeably. As inflation and economic shifts occurred, the bagattino was gradually debased into billon (a low-silver alloy) and eventually became a purely copper coin. During this transition, it established itself as a distinct denomination separate from the piccolo.

The Micro-Economy of Italian States

Bagattini were the lowest tier of everyday money in the highly fragmented Italian monetary system. They were not intended for international trade or large banking transactions; instead, they were the coins of the common people. They were indispensable for daily micro-transactions in urban markets, such as purchasing bread, vegetables, or paying minor tolls. Because they were minted primarily for local utility rather than prestige, they were often crudely struck and heavily worn from constant circulation.

Widespread Circulation

While the most famous and prolific issuer was the Republic of Venice, the bagattino was not exclusive to it. The denomination was widely used across northern and central Italian states between the 14th and 17th centuries, including the Duchy of Ferrara, Mantua, and various entities in the Po Valley. In the Venetian sphere of influence, these small coins circulated alongside other fractional currencies like the tornesello and soldino, reaching as far as Venice's overseas territories in modern-day Croatia (Zara, Trogir, Šibenik, and Hvar).