Italian scudo
Scudo (plural: scudi ) is the name of various currencies. The name is derived from the Italian word for shield.
History
As Italian scudi coins were originally called, were embossed with a coat of arms as mintmark. Originally first coined in Genoa, they were closely applied to the French Écu of Francis I..
Between 1350 and 1800 gold scudi ( scudi d' oro ) were minted. The Scudo of the Papal States was coined until 1866 and then replaced by the lira. They replaced the 1530 in Florence, Fiorino d' oro and contained 3.2 grams of gold. They were hardly significant for payments and were mainly for representation purposes as medals and embossed with a high face value.
During the 16th century, won silver scudi ( Scudo d' argento ) special popularity and importance. These were mostly large coins which were the German Taler comparable. In the Austrian possessions Lombardy and Veneto to the Scudo corresponded to a Konventionstaler. Coins with this designation were to the 19th century in different territories and city-states (such as Ancona, Bergamo, Bologna, Florence, Genoa, Lucca, Mantua, Milan, Modena, Turin and Venice Republic ) Northern and Central Italy dominated (Vatican until 1866 ).
The Italian Scudo corresponds in the Portuguese-speaking traditional common term Escudo ( until the introduction of the euro, the name of the national currency of Portugal ).
- Pictures of various coins Scudo
Scudo 1853 the Papal State
Two and a half scudi in 1858 the Papal State
Today scudi coins
Scudi coins are still issued by the Republic of San Marino and the Sovereign Order of Malta. The coins are issued, however not for payments, but only as a collector coins.
San Marino
According to the Monetary Agreement between the Italian Republic - on behalf of the European Community - and the Republic of San Marino San Marino used since 1 January 2002 the euro as its official currency and are their own euro coins. The agreement, however, San Marino expressly leaves the right to continue issuing gold coins denominated in scudi. San Marino makes use of this right and outputs in scudi denomination since 2002 gold coins. The scudi currency is not convertible. The 2- crowns gold coins correspond in alloy and size of the 20 - euro commemorative coins, which in turn follow the guidelines of the Latin Monetary Union for the 20-franc coins, as well as the 50 - euro commemorative coins which for 50 francs coins. From this can be the following fictitious exchange rate to gold derived:
2 scudi = 200/31 ≈ 6.4516 grams of gold in gram of gold purity of 0.900 (just under 1/5 ounce )
For a 2012 issued 2 scudi coin the issuing office gave to a conversion rate of 75 euros. Also this course is fictional, because on the one hand is significantly below the intrinsic value, on the other hand, significantly higher than the issue price.
Order of Malta
The Order of Malta is exclusively coins in scudi - currency. The face value of the coins are partly displayed in subunits of scudi; it corresponds to 1 Scudo Tari = 12 = 240 Grani. The currency is not convertible. From the coin issues of the Order, however, the following fictitious conversion rates can be derived:
1 Scudo = 12 grams of silver in the purity of 0.986
5 scudi = 4 grams of gold in the purity of 0.900