Coronation of the Virgin with Saints and Prophets (Zecca Altarpiece)

The Florentine mint struck the gold florin, a coin accepted in markets across Europe, and it was overseen by two of the city's richest guilds, the Calimala of cloth merchants and the Cambio of money changers. In 1372 its officials wanted a painting for their own building, which stood beside the palace of the city government. At the top Christ crowns his mother, and rows of saints and prophets fill the panel below against a great deal of gold.

The documents show a team at work. On 30 October 1372 the mint hired two painters, Niccolò and Simone, whom the museum identifies as Niccolò di Tommaso and Simone di Lapo. The leading hand was Jacopo di Cione, the youngest of the Cione brothers, and the work was done in 1373. Some scholars also see Niccolò di Pietro Gerini in it. In October 1373 a stonemason, Giovanni d'Ambrogio, was engaged to carve three stone brackets to carry the panel on the wall, bearing the arms of the Commune, the Calimala and the Cambio. The same three shields appear along the base of the altarpiece.