noun

• A gold coin of a type minted by the Republic of Venice from the 13th century, and until the 19th century widely used in trade and commerce throughout Europe, the eastern Mediterranean, and further afield; any of various similar coins minted elsewhere, especially those produced to the same standards as the Venetian coin for the purpose of facilitating international trade; a ducat. Also occasionally more generally: †a coin; a piece of money (obsolete).