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When the HMS Royal George was launched in 1756, she was the largest warship in the world, and she fought with distinction at the Battle of Quiberon Bay during the Seven Years’ War. On 29 August 1782, as the ship was being readied to sail for Gibraltar, the crew moved her guns and casks to the port side, to more easily examine the hull. This caused the ship to keel over severely on one side, eventually taking on water and sinking. 900 sailors and civilians aboard lost their lives, making this one of the worst maritime disasters to occur in British waters.UK112690. Salvaged Metal Engraved Roundel, engraved scrimshaw style, old tags with conflicting notes say, "made from salvaged metal" and "engraved silver coin", toned, some scratches and deposits, otherwise about as made, weight 17.841 g, maximum diameter 35.4 mm, 1839; obverse view of the listing Royal George, inscription above and below: Part / of the / WRECK / of the / Royal George / Sunk / Aug' 29th 1782 / Recovered / 1839; reverse blank; ex CNG Keystone Auction 7 (6 Jul 2022), lot 108; ex J. Eric Engstrom Collection; ex Coin Galleries sale (12 April 1994), lot 1544; ex Spink London; very rare;
Islamic, Sphero-Conical "Mercury" Vessel, 9th - 15th Century
Sphero-conical vessels have been found from the Levante to Central Asia, dating from the 9th to 15th century A.D. More than 30 are in the Palestine Archaeological Museum and many others in collections in Jerusalem. Shape, style and decor vary greatly. They have been identified as vessels, fire grenades, aeolipiles, plumb bobs, and decorative finials.
R. Ettinghausen in "The Use of Sphero-Conical Vessels in the Muslim East" (1965) discusses specimens that have been found with traces of Mercury inside. In the Muslim world, mercury was used in medicinal drugs for headaches, paralysis, palsy, deafness, insanity, and loss of vision, as a tonic, and in salves employed against scabs, itch and mange. It was used in veterinary medicines and as poison against lice, mice, snakes and scorpions. In industry, it was used for backing of mirrors and embellishments. Ettinghausen notes, however, that despite conclusive evidence for use as mercury containers, this was not their exclusive function.
A. Ghouchani and C. Adle in "A Sphero-Conical Vessel as Fuqqa'a, or a Gourd for 'Beer'" (1992) provide convincing evidence that some of these vessels, especially some inscribed with Kufic, were used for storing and drinking beer. Examples of inscriptions include:
"As long as it is full, they will kiss it, When empty they will drop it."
"Do not give your heart to woman, because they will make a gourd of beer out of a man."
"Drink to your good health."
Literature and inscriptions indicate the "gourds" were placed in ice to cool the beer and the beer was under pressure and would gush out after the gourd was opened.
In one case, these "gourds" were actually used as grenades. The Arab historian Al-Damiri (1341 - 1404), wrote, "There are deadly scorpions around Nasibayn. It is said that they originated from Shahr-i Zur. A king encircled Nasibayn. He took the scorpions and put them into beer gourds and catapulted them into the city!"AA99527. See Ettinghausen (1965) and Ghouchani-Adle (1992) for discussions of the type, near Choice, repaired crack, chips, tip of "cone" missing; 13.5cm tall, 12cm diameter, probably pre-Mongol, 9th - mid 13th century; unusual pine-cone decor (we did not find another in references or online), ex Mera Antiq (Yossi Eilon, Tel Aviv, 25 Jun 2013), found in Israel;
France, Duchy of Normandy, Robert Curthose (Robert II), 1087 - 1106
Similar reverses are sometimes described as a church or cathedral facade, however, the evolution of the type suggests something different. Richard I (942 - 996) struck a denier at Rouen with a temple reverse, imitative of a type struck by Louis the Pius, son of Charlemagne. Only a few years later, by the turn of the millennium, the temple had degenerated into a variety of nearly unrecognizable abstract patterns. That the image on this specimen may resemble a church or cathedral is likely only coincidental. More than 20 different abstract "temple" types are known.ME111851. Billon denier, cf. Roberts 4833; Dumas pl. XX, 2, gF, toning, light encrustations, weight 0.663 g, maximum diameter 16.1 mm, Rouen mint, 1087 - 1106; obverse + NORMAN DVX, cross, pellet in each quarter; reverse crude abstract two temples side-by-side, cross above center between triangular pediment peaks, annulet on the front of each temple, pellet below (according to references, our photo and description are upside down); very rare; $400.00 (€368.00)
Crusaders, Principality of Antioch, Bohemond IV, 1201 - 1233
Bohemond IV the One-Eyed, was Count of Tripoli from 1187 to 1233, and Prince of Antioch from 1201 to 1216 and from 1219 to 1233. The dying Raymond III of Tripoli offered his county to Bohemond's elder brother, Raymond, but their father Bohemond III of Antioch sent Bohemond to Tripoli in late 1187. Saladin, the Ayyubid sultan of Egypt and Syria, conquered the County in summer 1188, save for the capital and two fortresses. The county was returned in the truce that Bohemond's father made with Saladin in 1192. After his father died Bohemond seized Antioch. He made an alliance with Ayyubid emir of Aleppo and the Seljuq sultan of Rum, who often invaded Cilicia in the following years, preventing Leo I of Cilicia from attacking Antioch. Leo I supported a rebellion in Tripoli, which Bohemond crushed, but he lost an eye fighting. Bohemond confiscated the property of the Hospitallers, for which he was excommunicated by Pope Gregory IX. He tried to secure Cilicia for his younger son, Philip, but Constantine of Baberon, who had administered Cilicia, imprisoned Philip and Philip was murdered the following year. Bohemond's excommunication was lifted shortly before his death when he made an agreement with the Hospitallers.CR111856. Bronze fractional denier, Malloy Crusaders p. 222, 88a, VF, nice green patina, highlighting red earthen deposits, weight 1.011 g, maximum diameter 16.2 mm, die axis 270o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, probably first reign, 1201 - 1216; obverse +AIITIOCHE, large B, dotted inner and outer borders; reverse +AIITIOCHIA, cross pattée, dotted inner border; very rare;
Italy, Campobasso, Nicolas I of Montforte, 1422
Robert of Anjou gave Campobasso as a fief to Richard de Montfort in 1326, to reward him for his loyalty. Nicolas I de Montfort was his descendant. Campobasso is the capital of the Molise region and of the province of Campobassoa in southern Italy; located in the high basin of the Biferno river, surrounded by the Sannio and Matese mountains. The main tourist attraction is the Castello Monforte, built by Nicolas II over Lombard or Norman ruins. The castle has Guelph merlons and stands on a commanding point, where traces of ancient settlements (including Samnite walls) have been found. The castle was rebuilt after the earthquakes in 1456 and 1805.ME98087. Billon tornese, Biaggi 538 (R5); CNI XVIII p. 234, 10; cf. MIR 10 369 (stops, Nicolas II), MEC Italy III 938 (same), VF, well centered, light corrosion, light deposits, tiny edge crack, weight 0.673 g, maximum diameter 16.7 mm, die axis 180o, Campobasso mint, 1422; obverse * NICOLOA CONI * (closed C's and unbarred A, rosette stops), Châtel tournois topped with a cross; reverse + • CAmPIbASSI • (closed C and unbarred A's, pellet stops), cross pattée; ex Nomisma SpA (San Marino) auction 31 (Mar 2006), lot 325; very rare;
German States, Bishopric of Halberstadt, Gerno von Schembke, 1160 - 1177
The Diocese of Halberstadt was a Roman Catholic diocese from 804 until 1648. From 1180, the bishops or administrators of Halberstadt ruled a state within the Holy Roman Empire, the prince-bishopric of Halberstadt. The diocesan seat and secular capital was Halberstadt in present-day Saxony-Anhalt. Gerno von Schembke was the Bishop of Halberstadt from 1160 to 1177.ME92042. Silver bracteate, cf. Svensson 8.1, BBB I 15.17, Bonhoff I 483, Berger 1325, VF, well centered, toned, parts of legends weakly struck, weight 0.835 g, maximum diameter 25.7 mm, die axis 0o, Halberstadt mint, 1160 - 1177; obverse + S – STEPHANVS PROTOMARTI, bust of St. Stephen facing, nimbate, draped, three pellets left and star right; reverse incuse of obverse; ex Münzenhdl. Brom (Berlin);
Bulgars in Byzantine Bulgaria(?), Anonymous Follis of Christ, Imitative of Class A3, c. 1023 - 1040 A.D.
This imitative was most likely struck by an unofficial mint in unruly Byzantine Bulgaria. In 1018, the Byzantine emperor Basil II conquered the First Bulgarian Empire. The Bulgarian aristocracy were given Byzantine titles and moved to Asia. The existing tax system, laws, and the role of low-ranking nobility remained, at first, unchanged. As the Byzantine Empire declined under Basil's successors, Pecheneg invasions and rising taxes led to discontent and major uprisings. Bulgaria remained under Byzantine rule until the brothers Asen and Peter liberated the country in 1185, establishing the Second Bulgarian Empire.CR111244. Bronze anonymous follis, See Lampinen Imitative, p. 54, for a similar Class A imitative; prototype: Basil II & Constantine VIII, 1023-1028, SBCV 1818, aVF, green patina, light earthen deposits, off center, weight 7.969 g, maximum diameter 26.3 mm, die axis 0o, unofficial (Bulgarian?) mint, c. 1023 - 1040 A.D.; obverse facing nimbate bust of Christ, pallium and colobium, Gospels in both hands, no legend or inscription; reverse retrograde Greek inscription: + IhSuS / XRISTuS / bASILEu / bASILE (Greek: Jesus Christ King of Kings); ex Morton & Eden auction 119 (6 Dec 2022), lot 333 (part of);
Crusaders, Principality of Antioch, Bohemond IV, 1201 - 1233
Bohemond IV the One-Eyed, was Count of Tripoli from 1187 to 1233, and Prince of Antioch from 1201 to 1216 and from 1219 to 1233. The dying Raymond III of Tripoli offered his county to Bohemond's elder brother, Raymond, but their father Bohemond III of Antioch sent Bohemond to Tripoli in late 1187. Saladin, the Ayyubid sultan of Egypt and Syria, conquered the County in summer 1188, save for the capital and two fortresses. The county was returned in the truce that Bohemond's father made with Saladin in 1192. After his father died Bohemond seized Antioch. He made an alliance with Ayyubid emir of Aleppo and the Seljuq sultan of Rum, who often invaded Cilicia in the following years, preventing Leo I of Cilicia from attacking Antioch. Leo I supported a rebellion in Tripoli, which Bohemond crushed, but he lost an eye fighting. Bohemond confiscated the property of the Hospitallers, for which he was excommunicated by Pope Gregory IX. He tried to secure Cilicia for his younger son, Philip, but Constantine of Baberon, who had administered Cilicia, imprisoned Philip and Philip was murdered the following year. Bohemond's excommunication was lifted shortly before his death when he made an agreement with the Hospitallers.CR112304. Bronze fractional denier, Malloy Crusaders p. 222, 88b (described as obv. legend retrograde., VF, earthen encrustations, scratches, weight 0.948 g, maximum diameter 16.6 mm, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, probably first reign, 1201 - 1216; obverse +AIITIOCHE, large reversed B, dotted inner and outer borders; reverse +AIITIOCHIA, cross pattée, dotted inner border; very rare;
Crusaders, Principality of Achaea, William II of Villehardouin, 1245 - 1278
William of Villehardouin became Prince of Achaea when his brother Geoffrey II died. He conquered the remaining territory of the Peloponnese and built the fortress of Mistra near Sparta. In 1249 he accompanied Louis IX of France on the Seventh Crusade, joining him in Cyprus with 400 knights and 28 ships. Louis gave him a license to mint coins in the style of royal French money. William defeated Venice in the War of the Euboeote Succession and defeated the Duke of Athens in 1258, reaffirming his power over the duchy. In 1259 he formed an alliance with the Byzantine Despotate of Epirus against Nicaea. He led the Achaean forces against the Nicaeans, but the Epirote army deserted and William was defeated. He fled and hid under a haystack, but was captured. He remained captive until 1262 and permanently lost all his power.CR112805. Bronze denier, Malloy Crusaders p. 356, 3; Metcalf Crusades pl. 38, 877; Schlumberger p. 313 & pl. 12, 7; Tzamalis F56, aVF, centered, tight flan, center weak, edge ragged with splits, weight 0.702 g, maximum diameter 16.9 mm, Corinth mint, 1245 - 1278; obverse G•Π•AC-CA-IE•, long cross pattée, extending beyond inner circular border and dividing legend, right arm shorter making space for •; reverse COR/INT/Vm (squared legend, clockwise from 2:00, N appears as H, m appears as ligate on), fortified gateway with central tower surmounted by cross pattée flanked by pellets;
Kingdom of Sicily, Maria of Sicily, 27 July 1377 – 25 May 1401
Maria was the only child of Frederick the Simple and was only 16 when, under the terms of his will, she succeeded him on his death. On 23 January 1380 she was kidnapped and carried off by the count Augusta, who hoped to marry her to the Visconti of Milan. In 1382, Maria was rescued by an Aragonese fleet; she was taken first to Sardinia, then, in 1384, to Aragon, where in 1390 she was married to Martin the Younger, the grandson of Peter IV. In 1392, Maria and Martin returned to Sicily with a military force and defeated barons who had taken control. They ruling jointly until Maria's death in 1401. At that time, Martin repudiated the Treaty of Villeneuve and ruled Sicily alone.ME112817. Billon denaro, Biaggi 591 (R4), MEC Italy III 806 - 808 var. (Frederick the simple, different controls), MIR Sicilia -, aF/aVF, irregular flan with many edge splits, weight 0.779 g, maximum diameter 14.5 mm, Catania mint, sole reign, 1st coinage, 1377 - 1380; obverse + REGINA SICILIE, lozenge-shaped shield with arms of Aragon, four pellets around, within inner border; reverse GRA REX SICIL, elephant with upturned trunk (the symbol of Catania) standing left, cross pattée above, G - P (mint master's initials) in the 3rd and 4th quarter; Coin Archives records only two specimens of the type at auction in the last two decades; extremely rare;
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