Genoese Doppio Scudo

What surprises most about the Genoese Doppio Scudo is how it was minted using gold that often came from melted-down Spanish doubloons, a nod to Genoa's savvy role in rerouting New World bullion through its ports.

This gold coin, valued at two scudi, circulated from 1700 to 1797 under the Republic of Genoa. Designs varied by year, typically showing the doge on one side and the city's shield on the other, though exact motifs depended on the ruling magistrate. Not all pieces were uniform; some bore subtle edge markings to deter clipping, a common pilfering tactic of the era.

Mintage figures remain murky—records from that period are spotty at best. What we do know is that these coins funded Genoa's naval ventures, keeping the republic afloat amid European squabbles.

Economic relics like this one make you wonder if modern finance is just as convoluted.