1329-1339 AD., Italy, Venice, Francesco Dandolo, Doge, Grosso, Biaggi 2808.

Italy, Venice, Francesco Dandolo (1329-1339), Doge, Venice mint, 1329-1339 AD.,
Grosso (Matapan) (ø 19-20 mm / 2,10 g), silver, axes about coin alignment ↑↓ (ca. 170°),
Obv.: FRA DANDVLO - S M VENETI // D/V/X , Saint Mark, nimbate, facing, and Francesco Dandolo, facing, holding pendant flag between them, D / V / X in center field.
Rev.: IC - XC , Christ, nimbate, seated facing on throne, holding book of Gospels.
Paolucci 27,2 ; Papadopoli 162,5 ; Biaggi 2808 .

Francesco Dandolo (died 1339) was the 52nd Doge of Venice. He ruled from 1329 to 1339. During his reign Venice began its policy of extending its territory on the Italian mainland. During his reign Venice had many skirmishes with the Turks who would rival Venice for domination of the eastern Mediterranean over the next several centuries.

Venice also engaged in violent confrontations with the Lord of Verona Mastino II della Scala who continued the territorial politics of his uncle Cangrande I della Scala with the same aggressiveness. The Venetian-occupied cities of Feltre, Belluno und Vicenza were threatened by the Veronese but Venice did not react until the Veronese began to control the flow of river trade and tried to set up a trading base in Chioggia. An alliance was formed between the cities of Venice, Florence, Perugia, Siena, and Bologna in order to counter the threat from Verona.

In contrast to the usual practice of that time, Venice did not hire an army of mercenaries but instead conscripted its citizens between the ages of 20 and 60 for military service. With this method Venice was able to field an army of 40,000. The battles took place on the entire territory of the Scaliger, with varying results for both sides. Eventually, however, Mastino was defeated. In March, 1337 both sides came to a peace agreement after lengthy negotiations that allowed the soldiers to return to their cities and recover their land. Venice received guarantees of free trade for the affected areas.

Mastino, unhappy with the terms of the peace agreement, called upon Emperor Louis IV for help as a mediator, but the emperor sided with the doge and awarded Venice the rights to the city of Mestre. On January 24, 1339 the peace agreement was sealed in Saint Mark's Basilica in Venice. Treviso now came under the control of Venice, Florence received some castles but not the city of Lucca, which caused resentment in Florence and became one of the causes for the subsequent tensions between Venice and Florence.

Dandolo died on All Saints' Day in 1339. He was interred in the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.

More on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Dandolo