ITALY Coins
Quadrans: The Smallest Fractional Coin of Ancient Rome
Illustrated Specimen Details: Bronze Quadrans Example Specimen: Quadrans, ND (41-54 AD) (Roman Empire) Authority & Heraldry: This bronze coin was struck under Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus — the fourth Roman …
History of the Groš: From Grosso to the Bulgarian Empire
Illustrated Specimen Details: Silver Groš Example Specimen: Groš, 1280-1292 (Second Bulgarian Empire — imitation of Venetian coin) Authority & Heraldry: This silver coin from the Second Bulgarian Empire was issued under Geo…
Cavallo: Small Copper Coins of Naples (Italy)
Illustrated Specimen Details: Cavallo Coin Example Specimen: 4 Cavalli, 1804 (Kingdom of Naples) Historical Context: This copper coin was struck under the authority of Ferdinand IV (Italian: Ferdinando di Borbone-Due Sicilie ),…
Obolo Coin: Italian Medieval Fractional Currency
Illustrated Specimen Details: Asti Obolo Example Specimen: Obolo, 15th century — City of Asti (Italy) Design & Inscriptions: This extremely rare hammered copper coin originates from Asti, a city and municipality in the Pied…
Republican Denarius: History of the Roman Silver Coin
Illustrated Specimen Details: Republican Denarius Example Specimen: Republican Denarius (Serratus), 80 BC (Roman Republic) Iconography & Origin: This silver Denarius Serratus was struck in Rome around 80 BC. The obverse fe…
Baiocco Coin: The Copper Soul of Papal Italy
Illustrated Specimen Details: 1/2 Baiocco (Papal States) Example Specimen: 1/2 baiocco (mezzo baiocco), 1844 — Papal States (Bologna Mint) Historical Significance: This copper coin was issued during the 14th year of the reign o…
Soldo Coin Denomination: The Fractional Currency of Italy
Illustrated Specimen Details: 5 Soldi (Kingdom of Italy) Example Specimen: 5 Soldi, 1812 — Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic) Design & Imperial Symbolism: The obverse of this fine silver coin features the portrait of Napoleon I …
Quattrino Denomination: Copper Coin of Italian States
Illustrated Specimen Details: Quattrino (Bologna) Example Specimen: 1 Quattrino, 1610 — Bologna (Papal States, Italy) Historical Context and Authority: This coin was minted under the authority of Pope Paul V, the ruler…
Denarius: Silver Coin of Ancient Rome and its Legacy
Illustrated Specimen Details: Denarius (Roman Empire) Example Specimen: Denarius, from 145 to 147 AD — Roman Empire (Marcus Aurelius as Caesar) Ruler & Portraiture: This specimen features the young Marcus Aurelius , struck …
Limes Denarius: Ancient Roman Frontier Imitations
Illustrated Specimen Details: Limes Denarius (Roman Frontier) Example Specimen: Limes Denarius, early 3rd century (Roman Frontier Imitation of Julia Domna) Design & Symbolism: This coin is a contemporary imitation — a front…
Asper Coin: History, Genoese Caffa, and Ottoman Legacy
Illustrated Specimen Details: Silver Asper (Genoese Colony of Caffa) Example Specimen: Silver Asper, ND — No Date (Issued until 1475) Design & Symbols: The obverse of this medieval silver piece bears the abbreviated Latin l…
Centesimo: The Italian Fractional Lira Coin
Illustrated Specimen Details: Copper 1 Centesimo Example Specimen: 1 centesimo, 1822 (Milan Mint) Design & Symbols: The obverse features the denomination 1 CENTESIMO 1822 . The reverse displays the Iron Crown of Lombardy, a…
Antoninianus: Roman "Double Denarius" Silver Coin
Illustrated Specimen Details: Silver Antoninianus (Gordian III) Example Specimen: Antoninianus, 238-244 AD Design & Inscriptions: The obverse features the bust of the Emperor wearing a radiate crown — the defining character…
Tornese: Coin Denomination of the Two Sicilies
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. Th…
Gazzetta: Venetian Coin Denomination; 2 soldi
Illustrated Specimen Details: Gazzetta (Kingdom of the Morea) Example Specimen: Gazzetta (2 soldi), 1688-1690 AD Authority: Issued by the Republic of Venice for the Kingdom of the Morea (the Peloponnese peninsula in Southern G…
Quinarius: coin of Roman Republic; 1/2 denarius
Illustrated Specimen Details: Quinarius Example Specimen: Roman Republic, Moneyer M. CATO (89 BC) Although the quinarius denomination itself can be somewhat rare, this specific type from 89 BC is relatively common. It was massiv…
Marchesino: The Silver Coin of the Marquisate of Ferrara
Illustrated Specimen Details: Marchesino Example Specimen: Niccolò III d'Este, 1393-1441 The specimen shown here is a silver marchesino issued under the authority of Niccolò III d'Este , who ruled the Marquisate of Ferr…