| Medieval Coins of Sicily |  |
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| Byzantine Empire, Theophilus, 12 May 821 - 20 January 842 A.D. |   | |
| BZ58501. Bronze follis, Anastasi 549, SBCV 1681, DOC III 30, VF, weight 1.395 g, maximum diameter 16.4 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, obverse QEOFILOS bASI, facing bust wearing crown and chlamys, globus cruciger in right, MIXA from Michael II undertype below; reverse large M, cross above, X/X/X left, N/N/N right, Q below; $70.00 (53.90) |
| Byzantine Empire, Constantine IV Pogonatus, 15 July 668 - 10 July 685 A.D. |  | Constantine IV Pogonatus should be credited with saving Europe from Muslim conquest. The great siege of Constantinople by the caliph Muawiyah I, beginning in 674, lasted four years. The newly invented "Greek Fire" made the city impregnable. |
| BZ82479. Bronze follis, DOC II part 2, Class IV, 63; SBCV 1210, VF, weight 2.704 g, maximum diameter 26.0 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, 668 - 681 A.D.; obverse diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing, beardless, spear in right, shield on left ornamented with horseman; reverse large M, monogram above, SCL in ex; scarce; $65.00 (50.05) |
| Byzantine Empire, Constantine IV, 15 July 668 - 10 July 685 A.D. |  | The first Arab siege of Constantinople began in 674. In 678, the Byzantines finaly broke the seige when they destroyed the Arab fleet using a new incendiary liquid known as Greek fire, and then defeated the Arab army on land. Constantinople would not fall to the Muslims until 29 May 1453. |
| BZ47782. Bronze follis, Anastasi 249; DOC II part 2, Class IV, 63; SBCV 1210, VF, tight rectangular flan, weight 1.533 g, maximum diameter 19.6 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, 668 - 681 A.D.; obverse diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing, beardless, spear in right, shield on left ornamented with horseman; reverse large M, monogram above, SCL in ex; scarce; $65.00 (50.05) |
| Byzantine Empire, Justinian II, 10 July 685 - Late 695 and Summer 705 - 4 November 711 A.D. |  | |
| BZ47781. Bronze follis, Anastasi 360, SBCV 1438 corr. (has both holding long cross between them), DOC II -, BMC -, F, weak strike, irregular flan, weight 5.095 g, maximum diameter 25.3 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, 2nd Reign, 710 A.D.; obverse Justinian, bearded on left, and Tiberius, beardless on right, standing, each crowned, draped, and holding long cross in right; reverse large M, flanked by a star on each side, monogram above; rare; $60.00 (46.20) |
| Kingdom of Sicily, Charles of Anjou, 1266 - 1285 |  | Charles received the Kingdom of Sicily as a papal grant but had to take it by force from the Hohenstaufen. In 1282, he was expelled from Sicily by rebellion. He continued to claim the island, but ruled only the peninsula from his capital at Naples. By conquest he became King of Albania in 1272, by purchase King of Jerusalem in 1277, and he inherited the Principality of Achaea in 1278. |
| ME57807. Billon dinero, MEC Italy III 633, Biaggi 499, aVF, clashed dies, weight 0.326 g, maximum diameter 15.6 mm, Brindisi mint, 1266 - 1278; obverse + DEI GRA REX SICIL, K between square pellets, line above and below; reverse + DVC APVL PRIC CAP, long cross with lis in each quarter; scarce; $60.00 (46.20) |
| Byzantine Empire, Constantine V, 25 March 720 - 14 September 775 A.D. |  | Issued during the sole reign of Constantine V; the reverse posthumously commemorates his father. |
| BZ47775. Bronze follis, Anastasi 421, SBCV 1531, DOC III 55, VF, weight 1.904 g, maximum diameter 16.7 mm, die axis 180o, Sicily, Syracuse mint, 744 - 751 A.D.; obverse K/W/N/S - D/E/C/P, Constantine V, beardless, standing facing, wears crown and chlamys, akakia in right; reverse L/E/O/N - D/E/C/P, Leo III, bearded, standing facing, wears crown and chlamys, akakia in right; attractive green patina; scarce; $55.00 (42.35) |
| Kingdom of Sicily, Charles of Anjou, 1266 - 1285 |  | Charles received the Kingdom of Sicily as a papal grant but had to take it by force from the Hohenstaufen. In 1282, he was expelled from Sicily by rebellion. He continued to claim the island, but ruled only the peninsula from his capital at Naples. By conquest he became King of Albania in 1272, by purchase King of Jerusalem in 1277, and he inherited the Principality of Achaea in 1278. |
| ME54085. Billon dinero, MEC Italy III 628 - 632, Biaggi 1287, F, weight 0.629 g, maximum diameter 17.3 mm, Messina mint, 1266 - 1278; obverse + K DEI GRA REX SICILIE, cross with pellet at each end; reverse + DVC APVL' PRIC CAPVE, SICIL', lis above, rosette below; rare; $55.00 (42.35) |
| Kingdom of Sicily, Manfred von Hohenstaufen, 1258 - 1266 |  | The reading of the legends on this rare type are not certain. Biaggi did not have an adequate specimen and used a line drawing in place of the usual photograph. MEC notes there are no know specimens with clear legends. |
| ME54999. Bronze denaro, MEC Italy III 609A, Biaggi 1277 (R2), F, square flan, weight 0.993 g, maximum diameter 14.8 mm, die axis 270o, Messina mint, obverse + MAYNFRID, S entwined around cross; reverse + SICILIE REX, W over R ; rare; $50.00 (38.50) |
| Kingdom of Sicily, Manfred von Hohenstaufen, 1258 - 1266 |  | The reading of the legends on this rare type are not certain. Biaggi did not have an adequate specimen and used a line drawing in place of the usual photograph. MEC notes there are no know specimens with clear legends. |
| ME55000. Bronze denaro, MEC Italy III 609A, Biaggi 1277 (R2), F, clashed dies, rough, weight 0.412 g, maximum diameter 13.7 mm, Messina mint, obverse + MAYNFRID, S entwined around cross; reverse + SICILIE REX, W over R ; rectangular flan; rare; $50.00 (38.50) |
| Kingdom of Sicily, Manfred von Hohenstaufen, 1258 - 1266 |  | The reading of the legends on this rare type are not certain. Biaggi did not have an adequate specimen and used a line drawing in place of the usual photograph. MEC notes there are no know specimens with clear legends. |
| ME55001. Bronze denaro, MEC Italy III 609A, Biaggi 1277 (R2), VF, weight 0.765 g, maximum diameter 15.2 mm, die axis 180o, Messina mint, obverse + MAYNFRID, S entwined around cross; reverse + SICILIE REX, W over R ; rare; $50.00 (38.50) |
| Byzantine Empire, Constantine V, 25 March 720 - 14 September 775 A.D. |  | Issued during the sole reign of Constantine V; the reverse posthumously commemorates his father. |
| BZ58554. Bronze follis, Anastasi 421, SBCV 1531, DOC III 55, VF, weight 1.73 g, maximum diameter 14.9 mm, die axis 180o, Sicily, Syracuse mint, 744 - 751 A.D.; obverse K/W/N/S - D/E/C/P, Constantine V, beardless, standing facing, wears crown and chlamys, akakia in right; reverse L/E/O/N - D/E/C/P, Leo III, bearded, standing facing, wears crown and chlamys, akakia in right; scarce; $50.00 (38.50) |
| Byzantine Empire, Leo V, 11 July 813 - 25 December 820 A.D. |  | |
| BZ42392. Bronze follis, Anastasi 487; DOC III, part 1, 16; SBCV 1638, VF, weight 2.070 g, maximum diameter 18.9 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, obverse [L]-EON, facing bust of Leo with short beard, wearing crown and loros, cross potent in right; reverse [K]-ONC, facing bust of Constantine, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, globus cruciger in right; broad flan for the issue; rare; $45.00 (34.65) |
| Byzantine Empire, Constans II, September 641 - 15 July 668 A.D. |  | On 15 July (or September?) 668, Constans II was assassinated in his bath at Syracuse, Italy. |
| BZ43064. Bronze follis, Anastasi 118; DOC II part 2, 183; SBCV 1113; Wroth BMC 371, Hahan MIB 212, Morrisson BN 24, VF, ragged flan, overstruck, weight 3.919 g, maximum diameter 24.3 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, 650 - 651 A.D.; obverse bust facing, long beard, wearing crown and chlamys, globus cruciger in right, cross surmounted by palm in right field; reverse large monogram, AN - I (year 10) across fields; nice green patina; $45.00 (34.65) |
| Byzantine Empire, Leo V, 11 July 813 - 25 December 820 A.D. |  | |
| BZ55967. Bronze follis, Anastasi 488; DOC III, part 1, 17; SBCV 1636, VF, rough areas, weight 2.567 g, maximum diameter 21.1 mm, die axis 180o, Sicily, Syracuse mint, 814 - 815 A.D.; obverse L-E/O, facing bust of Leo with short beard, wearing crown and loros, cross potent in right, star right; reverse K-ONCT, facing bust of Constantine, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, globus cruciger in right, C left, I right; irregular tight flan; $45.00 (34.65) |
| Kingdom of Sicily, Frederick II as Holy Roman Emperor, 1220 - 1245 |  | Frederick II, an enlightened king, ahead of its time, is numismaticly famous for striking a wonderful gold coin named "augustalis" with style and fabric drawn from both Severan aurei and Constantinian solidi. This small and rare silver fraction is, however, true to its time. |
| ME55986. Billon mezzo denaro, MEC Italy III 536, Spahr 107, Biaggi 1254, aVF, chipped, weight 0.607 g, maximum diameter 18.7 mm, Messina mint, 1221 A.D.; obverse FIPERATOR +, cross pattιe; reverse REX SICIL, crowned imperial eagle facing, head left; rare; $45.00 (34.65) |
| Republic of Genoa, Italy, 1139 - 1339, In the Name of Conrad III, Contemporary Sicilian Counterfeit? |  | Conrad III, founder of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, was never crowned Holy Roman Emperor, but styled himself "King of the Romans." In 1139 he granted Genoa the right to mint coins. An unsuccessful crusader, at the Battle of Dorylaeum he and most of the knights escaped, but most of the foot soldiers were killed or captured by the Seljuks. He fell ill and was sent to Constantinople to recuperate, where his host, Emperor Manuel, I acted as his personal physician. After recovering, Conrad sailed to Acre, and from there reached Jerusalem. After failed attacks on Damascus and Ascalon, Conrad returned to Germany. |
| ME55993. Bronze denaro, cf. Biaggi 835 (official, Genoa mint, silver), aVF, irregular flan, weight 0.363 g, maximum diameter 15.8 mm, unofficial(?) mint, obverse +IANVA, castle in inner border; reverse +CVNRADIREX, cross pattιe in inner border; $45.00 (34.65) |
| Byzantine Empire, Theophilus, 12 May 821 - 20 January 842 A.D. |  | |
| BZ58551. Bronze follis, Anastasi 549, SBCV 1681, DOC III 30, VF, off-center, weight 1.545 g, maximum diameter 15.9 mm, die axis 170o, Syracuse mint, obverse QEOFILOS bASI, facing bust wearing crown and chlamys, globus cruciger in right, MIXA from Michael II undertype below; reverse large M, cross above, X/X/X left, N/N/N right, Q below; $45.00 (34.65) |
| Byzantine Empire, Leo V, 11 July 813 - 25 December 820 A.D. |  | |
| BZ58552. Bronze follis, DOC III, part 1, 16; SBCV 1638, VF, irregular tight flan, weight 1.910 g, maximum diameter 17.3 mm, die axis 225o, Syracuse mint, obverse [L]-EON, facing bust of Leo with short beard, wearing crown and loros, cross potent in right; reverse [K-O]N[C], facing bust of Constantine, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, globus cruciger in right; rare; $45.00 (34.65) |
| Kingdom of Sicily, William II, 1166 - 1189 A.D. |  | Secluded and pleasure-loving, William II, the Good, seldom emerged from his palace life at Palermo. Yet his reign was marked by an ambitious foreign policy and a vigorous diplomacy. Champion of the papacy and in secret league with the Lombard cities he was able to defy the common enemy, Frederick I Barbarossa. |
| ME57803. Bronze follaro, MEC Italy III 432, VF, weight 2.355 g, maximum diameter 12.8 mm, die axis 0o, Messina mint, obverse facing lion head; reverse Arabic legend "al-malik / Ghulyalim / al-thani" (King William 2nd); $40.00 (30.80) |
| Byzantine Empire, Leo V, 11 July 813 - 25 December 820 A.D. |  | |
| BZ58717. Bronze follis, Anastasi 488; DOC III, part 1, 17; SBCV 1636, VF, weight 3.792 g, maximum diameter 20.8 mm, die axis 180o, Sicily, Syracuse mint, 814 - 815; obverse L-EO, facing bust of Leo with short beard, wearing crown and loros, cross potent in right, star right; reverse K-ONCT, facing bust of Constantine, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, globus cruciger in right, C left, I right; typical tight flan, nice green patina; rare; $40.00 (30.80) |
| Byzantine Empire, Constans II, September 641 - 15 July 668 A.D. |  | In 649, Arabs conquered Cyprus. |
| BZ46029. Bronze follis, Anastasi 113; DOC II part 2, 177b; SBCV 1106, F, weight 3.922 g, maximum diameter 22.1 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, 648 - 650 A.D.; obverse no legend, bust of Constans facing, short beard, wearing crown and chlamys, globus cruciger in right; reverse large M, TKW monogram above; $35.00 (26.95) |
| Kingdom of Sicily, Manfred von Hohenstaufen, 1258 - 1266 |  | The reading of the legends on this rare type are not certain. Biaggi did not have an adequate specimen and used a line drawing in place of the usual photograph. MEC notes there are no know specimens with clear legends. |
| ME54997. Bronze denaro, MEC Italy III 609A, Biaggi 1277 (R2), F, encrusted, weight 0.804 g, maximum diameter 16.5 mm, die axis 225o, Messina mint, obverse + MAYNFRID, S entwined around cross; reverse + SICILIE REX, W over R ; rare; $30.00 (23.10) |
| Byzantine Empire, Heraclius & Heraclius Constantine, 23 January 613 - 11 January 641 A.D. |  | |
| BZ55970. Bronze follis, SBCV 884; for undertype, SBCV 809 or similar, aVF, weight 5.696 g, maximum diameter 28.7 mm, Syracuse mint, obverse facing busts of long-bearded Heraclius and his son Heraclius Constantine, wearing short beard, cross above, all within large round countermark; reverse Heraclian monogram and SCs within large round countermark, with traces of M from undertype; struck on an irregular rectangular cut down flan; $30.00 (23.10) |
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