Venice. Marco Barbarigo, AD 1485–1486. AV, Ducato (Zecchino). 3.52 g. 21.72 mm. Venice mint. Obv: MARC BARBADICO · S · M · VENETI / DVX. St. Mark standing right, presenting a cross-topped banner to the kneeling Doge Marco Barbarigo left. Rev: SIT T XPE DAT Q TV REGIS ISTE DVCAT. Beardless Christ, nimbate, standing facing inside a star-studded mandorla, holding the Gospels in His left hand and raising His right hand in a gesture of benediction. Ref: Paolucci I, 51.1 (R5); Friedberg 1240; C.N.I. VII, p. 180, no. 18. Very Fine. Marco Barbarigo was elected as the 73rd Doge of Venice on September 29, 1485. His tenure was remarkably brief, ending with his sudden demise on August 14, 1486, after a mere eleven months in office. The extraordinary rarity of this Zecchino—consistently graded as R5 (Extremely Rare)—is a direct consequence of this ultra-short reign. The Venetian mint (Zecca) struck gold coinage strictly in the name of the active ruler. Due to his short administration, the absolute output was minimal. Furthermore, very few specimens survived the subsequent melting and recoinage cycles of the Republic, making this issue one of the most coveted apex keys of the Renaissance Venetian series. Extremely-rare (R5)