Italian scudo
Thescudo(pl.scudi) was the name for a number ofcoinsused in various states in theItalian peninsulauntil the 19th century. The name, like that of theFrench écuand theSpanishandPortuguese escudo,was derived from theLatinscutum( "shield"). From the 16th century,[1]the name was used in Italy for largesilvercoins. Sizes varied depending on the issuing country.
History
[edit]The firstscudo d'argento(silver shield) was issued in 1551 byCharles V(1519–1556) inMilan.[1]
UnderMaria TheresaandJoseph IIthescudo d'argentohad a weight of 23.10 g and a fineness of 896/1000.[2]
In theKingdom of Lombardy–Venetia(under the control of theHabsburgAustrian Empire), theLombardy–Venetia scudowas equivalent to theConventionsthalerand was subdivided into sixlire.
Before theNapoleonic Wars,the lira was subdivided into 20soldi,each of 12denari.Later, the lira was made up of 100centesimi.
WhenAustria-Hungarydecimalizedin 1857, the scudo was replaced by theflorinat a rate of 2 florin = 1 scudo. Coins of1⁄2and 1 soldo were issued, equal to1⁄2and 1kreuzerrespectively, for use in Lombardy and Venetia.
In thePapal States,thePapal States scudowas the currency until 1866. It was divided into 100baiocchi(sing.baiocco), each of 5quattrini.It was replaced by thelira,equal to theItalian lira.
TheDuchy of Modena and Reggioalso issued scudi, worth four lire or one third of atallero.
InMalta under the Order of St John,theMaltese scudocirculated from the 16th century until the Order wasexpelled in 1798.The currency remained the official currency of Malta until 1825 and the last coins were removed from circulation in 1886. TheSovereign Military Order of Maltahas issued coins denominated in scudi since 1961.[3][4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abKlütz:Münznamen...
- ^Montenegro:Manuale...
- ^P. Christiaan Klieger (21 July 2014).The Microstates of Europe: Designer Nations in a Post-Modern World.Lexington Books. p. 59.ISBN978-0739197967.
- ^"The 700-year minting history of the Order of Malta".The Malta Independent.4 October 2018.Retrieved7 July2020.
Further reading
[edit]
- Konrad Klütz.Münznamen und ihre Herkunft.Vienna, moneytrend Verlag, 2004.ISBN3-9501620-3-8
- Eupremio Montenegro.Manuale del collezionista di monete italiane.XI ed. 1996, Torino.
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