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Normans in Sicily and their Coinage


All images Copyright © 1998-2010 m foster photographers

 

Abreviations:
AE = Bronze
AV = Gold
Ob = Obverse  Rv= Reverse
[letters or legend} = Letters/Legends missing
Sp.# = Reference
Roldolfo Spahr's Le Monete Siciliane

 


This is an overview of the History of Norman Sicily and not meant to substitute for proper research.  Most of this information can be Googled by using the key words Normans in Sicily, Robert Guiscard, Sergio IV or Roger of Hauteville. This overview is offered  to fill in some background to the coinage below.

To be brief, by 1046 the Arabs of North Africa had significant holdings in the Mediterranean which included Sicily and Southern Italy.  In 1046 the Normans move into Southern Italy, and by 1053 have taken over the entire southern part of Italy and Sicily and created the "Norman Empire".  This is attributed to a prime concession of land given them by Sergio IV of Naples, the "Contea di Aversa" or translated, "To have the Country" or "Country Holdings".  They were, basically, allowed to hold whatever they could take back from the Arabs.  From a small land grant, they swept across the entire Southern part of Italy and into Sicily.

At this time the Pope, Leo IX decides to dislodge the Normans and takes an army to Southern Italy.  His army is beaten, he is taken prisoner and the Normans extract a grant from the Pope that recognizes their titles and their holdings for his release.

In 1057 Roger of Hauteville becomes the leader of the Normans on the death of his brother Humphrey.  The Pope also seeks at this time to separate from the Holy Roman Empire and enlists the aid of the Normans.

By 1059 Pope Nicholas II gives Robert Guiscard (known as Robert "the Resourceful" or "the Weasel" depending on which accounts you read) Apulia and Calabria and whatever else he can hold for his pledge of service to the Pope.  Robert takes Southern Italy and Sicily.  Robert and Roger of Hauteville talso take Messina, Bari, Palmero and Salerno from the Byzantines.

Robert dies of an epidemic in 1085, and his son Roger acquires Apulia.  However, his other son Bohemond takes that from Roger.

The whole conquest is pretty much complete by 1090, with Roger I becoming Count of Sicily and his son Roger II becoming King of Sicily and Southern Italy in 1130, which by then also includes Greece and parts of North Africa.

Research for this information comes from a variety of material, most of which includes my own rough translations of Roldolfo Spahr's Le Monete Siciliane, and is augmented with information from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia on-line, and Infoplease, another research tool on-line.  There are a few others you can look up, just go to Google.

 

Roger II of Sicily as Count - 1127-1130 AE Follaro
Ob Roger crowned, in full length gown, standing with lance and globe with cross. R over II in left field
Rv Christ Enthroned
Sp. 53

Roger II of Sicily as Count - 1127-1130 AE Follaro

Roger II of Sicily as King - 1105-1154 AE 13
Ob King seated on Throne  Legend missing
Rv Cross with legend letters in corners : IC/X[C]/NI/[KA]
Sp. 80

Roger II of Sicily as King - 1105-1154 AE 13

William I of Sicily 1154-1166 Fractional Follaro
Ob REX/W in center with circle of Kufic Scrip legend around
Rv Bust of Virgin and Child  legend either side MP/[OY]
Sp. 99

William I of Sicily 1154-1166 Fractional Follaro

William II of Sicily 1166-1189 AE Follaro
Ob  Head of Lion
Rv Kufic Legend King William the Second
Sp. 118

William II of Sicily 1166-1189 AE Follaro 

William II of Sicily 1166-1189 AE TriFollaro
Ob Head of Lion
Rv Palm with Dates
Sp. 117 

William II of Sicily 1166-1189 AE TriFollaro

Tancred 1189-1194 AV Tari
Ob Star of eight rays, Legend around in Kufic
Rv Legend in angles of Cross [IC] XC/[N]I/KA with Kufic legend around
Sp. 128

Tancred 1189-1194 AV Tari

Tancred 1189-1194 AE Follaro
Ob Legend in Kufic King Tancred
Rv REX with dot above and below E - Legend around +R[OGE]RIVS ending in two dots :
 Sp. 139

Tancred 1189-1194 AE Follaro