By 1500, the coins had the distinctive characteristics of a cross and the Order's and Grandmaster's coat of arms on one side, and the head of St. John the Baptist on the other.

The quality of the coins improved especially during the reign of António Manoel de Vilhena in the early 18th century.

At some points in time, foreign coinage was allowed to circulate in Malta alongside the scudo.

After the Maltese rebellion, gold and silver ingots were stamped with a face value in grani, tarì and scudi and they briefly circulated as coinage in Valletta and the surrounding area.

The SMOM, which is now based in Rome, has issued souvenir coins denominated in grani, tarì and scudi since 1961.