The scudo (pl. scudi) was the name for a number of coins used in various states in the Italian peninsula until the 19th century. The name, like that of the French écu and the Spanish and Portuguese escudo, was derived from the Latinscutum ("shield"). From the 16th century,[1] the name was used in Italy for large silver coins. Sizes varied depending on the issuing country.
Before the Napoleonic Wars, the lira was subdivided into 20 soldi, each of 12 denari. Later, the lira was made up of 100 centesimi.
When Austria-Hungarydecimalized in 1857, the scudo was replaced by the florin at a rate of 2 florin = 1 scudo. Coins of 1⁄2 and 1 soldo were issued, equal to 1⁄2 and 1 kreuzer respectively, for use in Lombardy and Venetia.
In the Papal States, the Papal States scudo was the currency until 1866. It was divided into 100 baiocchi (sing. baiocco), each of 5 quattrini. It was replaced by the lira, equal to the Italian lira.
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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