Parpagliola from the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy
Parpagliola (from the French word parpaillole) is a term that refers to certain types of coins with a low silver content. In numismatic contexts, it is more commonly used in reference to Italian and French coins.
The word parpaillole was first used in the latter half of the 15th century in Provence to indicate the low content of a coin's silver. It was later imitated by the Bishops of Lausanne in the Swiss canton of Vaud and by the Duchy of Savoy.
Parpagliola was issued from the 16th century in the Duchy of Milan, where it was valued at 2 soldi and 6 denari. It was finally removed from circulation in the duchy in 1777, but parpagliola reappeared in Milan in 1808, when a 10 centesimo piece containing 20% silver was struck by the Kingdom of Italy under Napoleon (1769–1821).
