Sicily (1266-82) 5 tari d'oro Fr-653a

Sincona sale 80, lot 2796

This specimen was lot 2796 in Sincona sale 80 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 7,000 CHF (about US$8,390 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"ITALY | Sicily, Carlo I d'Angio, 1266-1282. Multiplo di Tari d'oro o. J. Messina. Ritter mit Schild und Schwert in der erhobenen Rechten reitet nach rechts, unten fünfstrahliger Stern. Rv. Kreuzstab zwischen IC CX / NI KA unten je drei Kugeln. Sehr selten in dieser Erhaltung. Gutes vorzüglich. Überdurchschnittlich gut ausgeprägt. (Italy, kingdom of Sicily, Charles of Anjou, 1266-82, undated multile gold tari, Messina mint. Obverse: knight with sword and shield charges right under a five pointed star; reverse: cross divides "IC CX NI KA" over two groups of three pellets. Very rare in this condition, Good extremely fine, Extraordinarily well struck.)"

Charles of Anjou was the brother of the king of France and came to Italy with an army, looking for a kingdom to conquer. He was evicted from Sicily in 1282 during the Sicilian Vespers. This is listed in Friedberg as a 3½ tari but this example is closer to five tari in weight.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: gold. This specimen is 4.94 g.

Catalog reference: Spahr 15. MIR 145/2. Fr-653a.

Source:

• Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
• Grierson, Philip, Coins of Medieval Europe, London: B. A. Seaby Ltd., 1991.
• ^[1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 80, World Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, World Banknotes, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.

Link to:

• Sicily (1220-50) 5 tari d'oro Fr-650 Frederick II
• Sicily (1266-82) tari d'oro Fr-142 Brindisi mint
• Sicily (1266-82) reale d'oro Fr-653 Charles of Anjou
• (1282-85) pierreale, Messina mint
• Coins and currency dated 1266