King Henry III's Gifts

In Venice circa 1574 one ducat was worth 124 soldi. A worker in the building trade received approximately 35 soldi per day if he was a master and 24 soldi if he was just a laborer.

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Hence, it took a worker approximately 4-5 days to earn a single ducat.

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In July of 1574, the newly crowned French King Henry III, travelled to Venice on a diplomatic and self-propagating mission.

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At the end of his stay in the private palazzo of Doge Alvise Mocenigo, the king presented Doge’s sister - Elisabeta Da Molin with a gift - a gold belt with thirty rosettes, each rosette encrusted with precious stones and pearls. The belt was estimated at 1800 ducats.

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A Venetian worker would have to work for approximately 24 years to earn 1800 ducats.

Juan Pantoja de la Cruz, 1608, Queen Elizabeth of Valois, sister of King Henry III, and her gorgeous jewel-encrusted belt (Possible copy of a portrait by Sofonisba Anguissola).