Papal Scudo

The Papal Scudo's designs evolved with each pope, embedding the coin with a rotating cast of ecclesiastical portraits that made counterfeiting a theological minefield.

Issued in silver by the Papal States from 1582 until Italian unification, these coins typically weighed around 30 grams and carried a value equivalent to seven paoli. Variations depended on the mint—Rome, Bologna, or others—but exact specifications drifted over time as silver supplies fluctuated. Some Scudi were struck on recycled planchets, a practical reuse that hints at the Vatican's economical streak.

We don't know the precise mintage for most years; records were spotty, and what survived often got lost in bureaucratic reshuffles. As for myths, I've heard tales of blessed coins warding off plagues, but after thirty years, I'll stick to the metal: it's just silver, not a relic.

Pope Pius IX issued more types than most, keeping engravers busy enough to make you wonder if he was stalling for eternity.