Illustrated Specimen Details: Copper 1 Tornese

Example Specimen: 1 tornese, 1840 (Kingdom of the Two Sicilies)

Authority: Issued under Ferdinand II (Ferdinando Carlo), who reigned as King of the Two Sicilies from 1830-1859. The obverse features his portrait with the Latin legend FERD. II. D. G REGNI VTR. SIC. ET HIER. REX (Ferdinand II, by the Grace of God, King of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and Jerusalem).

Design & Inscriptions: The reverse displays the denomination TORNESE UNO (One Tornese) topped by a large royal crown — a key symbol from the Great Coat of Arms of the Kingdom.

Issuer: Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Denomination: 1 Tornese
Date: 1840
Metal: Copper
Weight: 3 g  |  Diameter: 19 mm
Estimated value: 15$
DENOMINATION GUIDE — WHERE & WHEN (coins catalog: by names & emitents)
  1. KINGDOM OF THE TWO SICILIES (1817-1858): 1 tornese = 1/200 ducat = 1/2 grano.
  2. KINGDOM OF NAPLES (16th-19th centuries): 1 tornese = 1/240 piastra = 1/2 grano = 6 cavallo.
TORNESE as a coin name: Derived from the French denier tournois — a silver coin originally minted in Tours. This French model became a standard for many low-value coins across medieval Europe, especially in southern Italy.

Historical Evolution: From Silver to Copper

The tornese underwent a massive transformation over several centuries. Starting as a billon coin (low-grade silver) influenced by Byzantine and French traditions under the Angevin dynasty in the 13th-14th centuries, it eventually evolved into a pure copper denomination. This shift reflected a broader European pattern where small silver units lost intrinsic value due to inflation and debasement.

The Tornese in Southern Italy

In the Kingdom of Naples and later the Two Sicilies, the tornese was essential for daily life. It occupied the very bottom of the monetary hierarchy, functioning as the practical lowest unit for market exchanges, tolls, and small wages:

  • 1 grano = 2 tornesi
  • 1 carlino = 10 grana = 20 tornesi
  • 1 ducat = 100 grana = 200 tornesi

In earlier systems, such as the Kingdom of Naples, its value was even smaller, representing 1/240 of a piastra. Despite its low denomination, the designs remained regal, often featuring sophisticated heraldry and the portraits of Bourbon kings.

Numismatic Legacy

Mass-produced in regional centers like Naples, tornesi were intended for heavy daily use. Consequently, many surviving specimens from the 18th and 19th centuries show significant wear. The tornese remained in circulation until the unification of Italy in the mid-19th century, when it was replaced by the Italian lira.

For collectors, the tornese offers a vast field of study, illustrating the long-lasting influence of the French tournois system beyond France. It stands as a witness to the economic shifts from medieval silver standards to the modern copper coinage of the pre-unification Italian states.