06/05/2026
✨ "Marenghi d'oru" across the Atlantic Ocean: the traveled from the to ✉️🌊🪙
Today I want to share a story from two centuries ago, told to me by my great-aunt Maria, exactly as she told it to me. But first, a little context. As many of us know, the United States and Sicily are deeply connected through journeys, family stories, sacrifices, hard work, and letters sent across the ocean.
These letters carried love for a partner, news for parents, siblings, grandparents, and children… and sometimes even objects. In fact, it was quite common to send money, a bit like Western Union today, but entirely physical and real.
At that time, those who emigrated to were usually (not always) men young and unmarried, or newly married husbands whose families remained in Sicily, waiting for them. Once abroad, they learned the language, adapted to a new world, and worked hard, often taking the humblest jobs. They saved money not only to improve their own lives, but above all to send back home.
Back then, due to cultural norms, men were mostly the ones earning a wage, even though women also worked as seamstresses, shopkeepers, embroiderers, and teachers. It became essential for husbands, fathers, or brothers to support their families from afar.
This money was used for daily needs, but sometimes it was also saved, with the hope that one day the family could join their loved one in America.
💌 These funds were often sent by mail or entrusted to trusted people: friends, fellow villagers, or intermediaries traveling back to Sicily. But this system was risky. Theft, loss, and fraud were not uncommon. We are talking about the late 1800s and early 1900s: money was sent as , easy to mail, but also as coins, often made of gold or silver. A true treasure crossing the Atlantic and arriving in Sicilian homes 💸💰
And here’s where something special happened. These coins (cents or dollars) often needed to be exchanged. Families who could afford it would offer to exchange them for Italian , the currency of the time. In doing so, they kept those beautiful gold or silver coins from overseas, objects that had traveled for about a month across the ocean.
✨ These coins were often taken to local goldsmiths and transformed into unique, beautiful earrings, objects filled with history, meant to be passed down from generation to generation.
They became known as “marenghi d’oru”, named after the gold coins worth 20 units that circulated in Europe during the 1800s, especially in countries like France and Italy. Each kingdom had its own version.
But American coins had a special charm. Sometimes smaller, they were perfect for jewelry, especially earrings!
And this is exactly what happened in my family. My zia Maria, born in 1922, wore every single day a pair of earrings that had belonged to her grandmother, Maria Mascari, born in the late 19th century.
Just imagine how many stories those earrings could tell… they carry the memory of fishing families like mine for over 200 years.
📬 Over time, especially in the early 1900s, things began to change. In the United States, safer systems were introduced, such as money orders. A key role was played by the United States Postal Service.
Emigrants could go to a post office, purchase a money order, and send it to Italy, where it could be cashed in lire. This became the most common and secure method.
Banks also started playing an important role. Some Italian and Italian-American institutions, like the historic Banco di Napoli, created networks to facilitate these remittances.
💙 A Story That Connects Worlds
Did you enjoy this story? I love it because of the connection it creates between the United States, Sicily, and especially Termini Imerese.
There are many more stories like this… and little by little, we will share them all.
💬 Did you know about the marenghi d’oro? Do you have any coins or jewelry like this in your family? Let me know in the comments!
