Sicily 1549-MA 2 tari
This specimen was lot 74235 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2023), where it sold for $240. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Naples & Sicily (Sicily). 2 Tari, 1549. Messina Mint. Charles V. PCGS VF-35. This pleasing and evenly circulated example delivers good details and a charming gunmetal gray color throughout. From the David Sterling Collection." The kingdom of Sicily had long been ruled together with the kingdom of Naples but was divided by the Sicilian Vespers of 1282, in which Charles of Anjou was ejected from Sicily by Peter of Aragon but retained Naples. Aragonese rule passed into Spanish rule under the Catholic kings and thence to Charles V, king of Spain and Holy Roman emperor. Charles spent much time in Italy, where his soldiers sacked Rome in 1527, but we don't think he ever visited Sicily. This type is noted for 1540-52 with mintmaster MA appearing after 1542.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver or billon.
Catalog reference: KM MB70, Spahr-223.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, November 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancient & World Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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