The first ''scudo d'argento'' (silver shield) was issued in 1551 by
Charles V (1519–1556) in
Milan. In the
Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia (under the control of the
Habsburg Austrian Empire), the
Lombardy–Venetia scudo was equivalent to the
Conventionsthaler and was subdivided into six
lire. 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-Hungary decimalized in 1857, the scudo was replaced by the
florin at a rate of 2 florin = 1 scudo. Coins of and 1 soldo were issued, equal to 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. The
Duchy of Modena and Reggio also issued scudi, worth four lire or one third of a
tallero. In
Malta under the Order of St John, the
Maltese scudo circulated from the 16th century until the Order was
expelled in 1798. The currency remained the official currency of Malta until 1825 and the last coins were removed from circulation in 1886. The
Sovereign Military Order of Malta has issued coins denominated in scudi since 1961. ==See also==