Sequin (coin) who was prominently depicted on it, it was called the ', after the Zecca (mint) of Venice, since 1543 when Venice began minting a silver coin also called a ducat. The name of the mint ultimately derives from ("), meaning a coin mould or die. In some regions, in later centuries, this type of coins were stitched to women's clothing such as headdresses – this eventually led to the origin of the more modern word "sequins" to denote small shiny, circular decorations. Following the Venetian model, similar coins were used for centuries throughout the Mediterranean. After two hundred years of
Ortensio Zecchino Ortensio Zecchino Ortensio Zecchino (born 20 April 1943) is an Italian academic and politician, former Minister of University and Research. After teaching History of Medieval Institutions at the Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples, Zecchino joined the Christian Democracy and was elected regional councilor of Campania, holding the seat from 1970 to 1979, until he has been elected to the European Parliament. In 1987 Zecchino has been elected for the first time to the Senate and held the seat in Palazzo Madama until 2001. In 1998 Zecchino joined the D'Alema I Cabinet in which he has been appointed Minister of