Sicily 1562-TP 4 tari
This specimen was lot 34589 in Heritage sale 3067 (Long Beach, September 2018), where it sold for $408. The catalog description[1] noted, "Italy: Sicily. Philip II of Spain 4 Tari 1562 AU58 PCGS, Messina mint. A quite handsome example from this popular hammered Sicilian series, the present offering has managed to retain a high amount of eye-appeal despite clear evidence of double-striking. Once the onlooker turns to rotate the coin in hand, the slate gray surfaces reveal hidden iridescence that bursts forth, especially on the reverse, into flames of russet orange, pale yellow, and sapphi[r]e hues that completely captivate. Certainly second-to-none in terms of eye-appeal for the grade, and worthy of a premium as such." The Spanish Hapsburgs ruled Naples and Sicily as part of their Aragonese inheritance from the death of Ferdinand the Catholic in 1517 until the death of Charles II in 1700. The doubling visible on this specimen is very common on hammered coinage. Twelve tari made a piastra altho no piastri were struck for the kingdom in this century.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: MIR-317/7.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2018 September 6-11 Long Beach Expo World Coins & Ancient Coins Signature Auction #3067, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
Link to: