Italian scudo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The scudo was a coin used in Italy in past times, whose name derives from the French golden écu, created during the reign of Louis IX.

From the 18th century, the name was used in Italy for large silver coins sporting the sovereign's insignas. Sizes varied however, depending from the country issuing it.

In Lombardy-Venetia (under Austrian control), the scudo was equivalent to the Conventionsthaler and was subdivided into 6 lire. Before the Napoleonic wars, the lira was subdivided into 20 soldo, each of 12 denari. After, the lira was made up of 100 centisimi. When Austria-Hungary decimalized in 1857, the scudo was replaced by Austrian currency at a rate of 2 florin = 1 scudo. Coins of ½ and 1 soldo were issued, equal to ½ and 1 kreuzer, for use in Lombardy and Venetia.

In the Papal States, the scudo was the currency until 1866. It was divided into 100 baiocchi (baiocci), each of 5 quattrini. It was replaced by the lira, equal to the Italian lira.

The Duchy of Modena also issued scudi, worth four lire or one third of a tallero.

In other languages