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The town Ragusa (today Dubrovnik)
was founded in VI century, to escape Barbarian invasions.
Citizen of old Diocletian's Spaletum (today Split) and nearby Salona (Solin)
escaped from their homes and traveled 250km to settle on an
small island Lokrum, along with citizen of Epidaurus (Cavtat). Within years,
lead by new migrations, most of Lokrum inhabitants moved to
mainland, founding the city of Ragusa. In next two centuries it was growing
very fastly, becoming cultural and commercial center on the
eastern Adriatic shore. Under Croato-Hungarian monarchy it was made
special community, while under Venice (1205 - 1358) it
was given high autonomy. After peace in Zadar, 1358. it was returned to Croatian
territory. During years Ragusa has becoming more and
more independent until 1526. when Ottoman Empire gain the
Easterm Mediterranean after the victory at Mohacs, 29th
July. After that Ragusa gained full independence, and beside that, it was under
protection of the Ottoman Empire. In this times Ragusa grew into
one of the most significant powers in the Mediterranean Sea, trade and
cultural. In 1667. terrible earthquake destroyed Ragusa, which
was used by some Turkish forces to pillage the town in next few
years and set it on fire. After these catastrophes famous town began to lose its importance, but it was also due to the discovery of America
and setting up
the colonies, which changed commercial focus from Mediterranean Sea to Atlantic Ocean. Five
centuries of independence of Ragusa ended with Napoleon's
conquests, 1808., when French troops entered town and changed their LIBERTAS flag with
their tricolor. Raguse became just a town in their Illiric
provinces...
Before Venice involved in Ragusa coinage,
there were circulating Croato-Hungarian Denar specially minted for
Dalmatia, with inscription * ANDREAS . DAL . R . During Venetian rule, Ragusa started to
mint its own coins. That were coins of same value as Venetian,
but with Ragusan legends and motives. First coins, made in the last few years of XIII century
were small copper Folar, silver Denar and larger
Perper.
 
Folar and Denar were used from 1294. to the early 1500's
At the beginning of 16th
centuries two denominations showed on images were slowly changed
with others. Of course, as this was the period rulers over Ragusa were changing, also Venetian, Croatian(Dalmatian)
and coins of Ottoman Empire circulated, even more than their authentic coins. Slightly changed Perper was minted in XVII
century, along with 1/2 Perper coin.
Beautiful 1 perper was coined more than two centuries -
until the fall of Republic
Other denominations have also been
started to mint. They have had small copper Soldo and silver (billon) Grosseto. But the most representative coin of the Republic was large Talir
(Vižlin or Tallero) which was made in several varietes. Large pallete
of different denominations were made, monetary system was as follows:
| 1 Grosseto |
= |
6 Soldi |
| 1 Artiluk |
= |
3 Grosseti |
| 1 Perper |
= |
12 Grosseti |
| 1 Dukat |
= |
40 Grosseti |
| 1 Talir (Vižlin) |
= |
60 Grosseti |
| 1 Libertina |
= |
80 Grosseti |
Copper Soldo and billon Grosseto were the smallest coin
in Ragusa
Artiluk was beautiful silver coin minted in period 1627.-1701. It
was made under Ottoman influence, its value was equal to their 6
para
Ragusa Dukat (Ducat), unlike the trade money of
the same name, was silver coin minted in 1722., 1723. and 1739.
only
Talir (Vižlin or Tallero) was large silver coin
first minted in 1725. (left) with busts of Sv. Vlaho (San
Blasio), of which few types
exists. After 1743. it was minted with busts of Rector of
Ragusa (right), until 1779.
Coined just from 1791. to 1795. Libertina was the largest coin
in Ragusa Republic, with a value of 80 grosetti
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