Sardinian Doppio

The Sardinian Doppio, a gold coin from the Kingdom of Sardinia, derived its value from being exactly twice a scudo, making it a straightforward unit in an era of convoluted currencies.

Struck mainly in Turin and Cagliari, these coins featured the profile of the reigning Savoy monarch, often with Latin inscriptions that declared divine right. That helped them circulate beyond Italy's borders, even into France and Spain. Planchets were typically 22-karat gold, recycled from older pieces when supplies ran short.

Exact mintage figures are murky; records from the 1700s burned in various wars and fires. Still, survivors show wear from heavy use in trade routes.

The design evolved over the century, from baroque flourishes under Victor Amadeus II to simpler lines by the Napoleonic era. By 1814, production halted as Sardinia's coinage merged into Italy's unified system.

One oddity: the coin's edge sometimes bore a milled pattern, not for anti-clipping, but as a nod to British guineas—proving even isolated mints kept an eye on trends.