Brief History
Before the unification of Italy about 1861, Italy consisted of many small states, kingdoms, and duchies. This makes the period more interesting for historians and coin collectors alike.
Sardinia was under the rule of the House of Savoy from 1720, and eventually became the core of the unified Italian state.

Italian States Gold Coins
Because of its long history, and many small states, many different types and designs of Italian gold coins have been issued. Among the most famous is the ducat, also called a zecchino and issued in numerous states. In other states, its equivalent was the scudo (scudo d'oro) or florin. Double sized coins were doppia, the italian for double, and there were also strangely enough half doppie, quarter doppie and eighth doppie. Sovranos and half sovranos were issued by Lombardy - Venetia, ongaros in Mantua and Milan, doppiettas (little doubles) by Sardinia, oncia by Sicily, ungheros and ruspone in Tuscany. Lire were introduced as early as 1758 in Genoa, and were eventually also issued by a number of other states including Sardinia. Lira was the name chosen for the new coinage of the kingdom starting in 1861. The most readily available of the modern Italian gold coins are the 20 Lire of Victor Emanuel II and Umberto I.

List of Italian States

Arquata Bardi Belgiojoso Belmonte Bozzolo Cagliari Campi Casale Castiglione Del Gatti Castiglione Delle Stiviere Cispadine Republic Cisterna Correggio Cuneo Desana Emilia Gazzoldo Genoa Ligurian Republic (Liguria) Guastalla Italian Republic Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples Kingdom of Napoleon Liguria Livorno Loano Lombardy - Venetia Lucca Maccagno Mantua Massa Di Lunigiano Messerano Milano (Milan)

Mirandolo Modena Monaco* Naples & Sicily (Two Sicilies) Papal States Papal States Zecchini Parma Piacenza Piedmont Republic Piombino Pisa Porcia Retegno Ronco San Giorgio San Marino* Sardinia Savoy Sicilia (Sicily) Solferino Soragna Subalpine Republic Tassarolo Trento Tresana Tuscany Two Sicilies (Naples & Sicily) Urbino Vasto Vatican* Venezia (Venice) Venice Zecchini Ventimiglia Vercelli

* Monaco is an independent state, but we have listed it here because of its close association with Italy.
* San Marino is an independent state, but we have listed it here because of its close association with Italy.
* The Vatican is an independent state, but we have listed it here because of its close association with Italy.