Sicilian piastra
Encyclopedia
The piastra was the distinct currency of the Kingdom of Sicily
until 1815. In order to distinguish it from the piastra issued on the mainland Kingdom of Sicily (also known as the Kingdom of Naples
), it is referred to as the "Sicilian piastra" as opposed to the "Neapolitan piastra
". These two piastra were equal but were subdivided differently. The Sicilian piastra was subdivided into 12 tari, each of 20 grana or 120 piccoli. The oncia was worth 30 tari (2½ piastra).
In 1815, a single piastra currency was introduced for the Two Sicilies, see Two Sicilies piastra
.
Following the adoption of the unified currency for the two Sicilies, copper coins were issued in 1835 and 1836 bearing the name "Siciliana", in denominations of ½, 1, 2, 5 and 10 grana. It is unclear whether these coins were denominated in Two Sicilies grana or the old Sicilian grana (worth half as much).
On both of these historic documents, the denomination Piastra was not used.
A Sicilian coin commonly available for sale today is the 120 Grana silver piece, weighing an ounce. It is called, in the supplementary description of this silver piece, one piastre.
However in 1823 George Crabb
, in his Universal Technological Dictionary Volume 2, in addition to supporting the above relative values of Onzio, Tari and Grani in accounting, lists 120 Grani as equivalent to one Florino. Crabb also lists the Ponto, the Carlino, the Ducat and the Scudo or Crown and their equivalence to the Grano, however no mention of the Piastre.
Kingdom of Sicily
The Kingdom of Sicily was a state that existed in the south of Italy from its founding by Roger II in 1130 until 1816. It was a successor state of the County of Sicily, which had been founded in 1071 during the Norman conquest of southern Italy...
until 1815. In order to distinguish it from the piastra issued on the mainland Kingdom of Sicily (also known as the Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
), it is referred to as the "Sicilian piastra" as opposed to the "Neapolitan piastra
Neapolitan piastra
The piastra was the most common silver coin of the mainland Kingdom of Sicily, also known as the Kingdom of Naples. In order to distinguish it from the piastra issued on the island of Sicily, it is referred to as the "Neapolitan piastra" as opposed to the "Sicilian piastra". These two piastra were...
". These two piastra were equal but were subdivided differently. The Sicilian piastra was subdivided into 12 tari, each of 20 grana or 120 piccoli. The oncia was worth 30 tari (2½ piastra).
In 1815, a single piastra currency was introduced for the Two Sicilies, see Two Sicilies piastra
Two Sicilies piastra
The ducat was the main currency of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies between 1816 and 1860. When the Congress of Vienna created the kingdom merging the Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of Sicily, the ducat became at par a continuation of the Neapolitan ducat and the Sicilian piastra issued prior to...
.
Coins
In the late 18th century, coins were circulating in denominations of 3 piccoli, 1, 2, 10 and 20 grana, 2, 3, 4 and 6 tari, 1 piastra and 1 oncia. These were struck in copper up to the 2 grana, with the higher denominations in silver. In 1801, copper 5 and 10 grana were introduced, followed by a gold 2 oncia in 1814.Following the adoption of the unified currency for the two Sicilies, copper coins were issued in 1835 and 1836 bearing the name "Siciliana", in denominations of ½, 1, 2, 5 and 10 grana. It is unclear whether these coins were denominated in Two Sicilies grana or the old Sicilian grana (worth half as much).
Riveli
From a Riveli in 1607 Catania, also a Riveli in 1811 Avola, the Sicilian money system can be readily extracted. It was:-- 1 onze = 30 Tari, 1 Taro = 20 Grani, 1 Grano = 6 piccioli.
On both of these historic documents, the denomination Piastra was not used.
A Sicilian coin commonly available for sale today is the 120 Grana silver piece, weighing an ounce. It is called, in the supplementary description of this silver piece, one piastre.
However in 1823 George Crabb
George Crabb (writer)
-Life:He was born 8 December 1778 at Palgrave, Suffolk. He was educated at a school at Diss and under a private tutor. He began as a medical student, but became assistant to a bookseller...
, in his Universal Technological Dictionary Volume 2, in addition to supporting the above relative values of Onzio, Tari and Grani in accounting, lists 120 Grani as equivalent to one Florino. Crabb also lists the Ponto, the Carlino, the Ducat and the Scudo or Crown and their equivalence to the Grano, however no mention of the Piastre.