Giorgino - Francesco I d'Este

Francesco I spent much of his reign navigating the competing demands of France and Spain, extracting subsidies from both while keeping Modena technically solvent. The giorgino was introduced as a small billon fractional to ease chronic shortages of low-denomination coin in the duchy — a recurring problem across the Italian states throughout the mid-seventeenth century. Billon's debased silver content made it practical for the purpose but universally despised by those forced to use it.