Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXIV 28 Mar 2022
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Italian States, Sicilia (Sicily, Kingdom). Frederick I (later Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor) AV Augustale. Messina mint, circa 1231-1250. • CЄSAR AVG ◦ IMP ROM, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust to right / ✠ FRIDE RICVS, eagle standing to left, head to right, with wings spread. Kowalski U12/A40; Spahr 98; MEC 14, 514; Friedberg 134 (Brindisi). 5.28g, 21mm, 6h.
Near Mint State; minor edge marks, perhaps from having been placed in a bezel.
Ex Long Valley River Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XX, 30 October 2020, lot 979;
Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XXIII, 14-15 January 2020, lot 1160.
The Augustale was a denomination introduced to Sicily by Frederick I in 1231. As Holy Roman Emperor as well as King of Sicily, he clearly wanted to draw parallels between himself and the emperors of Roman antiquity. Although not based on a specific ancient coin, the similarities in imagery and design between this coin and an aureus of the early empire are impossible to ignore - the classical laureate, draped and cuirassed bust in profile follows the same scheme as these earlier coins. The eagle on the reverse was less commonly seen but the stance of the bird with wings spread and head turned back bears remarkably similarity, for example, to aurei issued by Domitian (RIC II.1 143).
Frederick I of Sicily, who later became Frederick II when he ascended to the throne of the Holy Roman Empire, ruled over a considerable territory spreading across much of Italy and Germany. In 1225 he also became 'King of Jerusalem' by virtue of marriage to Isabella II of Jerusalem, heiress to the kingdom, seeing to it that his father-in-law was dispossessed with his title transferred to the emperor. Yet despite his power over many countries and cities, Frederick was unable to prevail over the papacy. The Popes during this period mistrusted the emperor on both moral and political grounds; Frederick was reported to have said that Moses, Christ and Mohammed were imposters and Pope Gregory IX went so far as to declare the emperor 'preambulus Antichristi' (herald of the Antichrist).
Frederick was excommunicated from the Catholic church three times during his reign, although the instances of his excommunication seem to have been more political manoeuvring than in reaction to any specific moral deficiency on the behalf of the emperor. The Papal States were surrounded by land under Frederick's rule and the fear of losing their independence and the authority of the church being taken over by the imperial powers led to much of the tension between the two parties. Frederick's first excommunication by Gregory IX was due to his failure to complete his crusading promises made on his coronation; the emperor's abstention from the crusades in question was however due to an epidemic that afflicted both him and his troops. Gregory, it seems, wished to keep Frederick from any position of power within or over the church and in doing so to reduce his moral credibility as ruler.
After years of antagonism, the final break with the papacy came when Frederick installed his son Enzio as King of Sardinia by marrying him to Adelasia of Torres, the widow of Ubaldo II Visconti in 1238; upon the marriage, Enzo by jure uxoris would accede to the Sardinian Giudicati of Logudoro (Torres) and Gallura, covering the northern half of the Sardinia island. The Papal States had suzerainty over Sardinia and this open act of defiance against the papacy's power in this region caused Frederick to be excommunicated once again, clearly as a punishment for this power grab. In 1250 Frederick died unexpectedly from illness amidst brutal battles with the Papacy; within 22 years of his death all of his heirs had been killed in the continuing struggle and the Papacy retained their power over the Papal States.
Near Mint State; minor edge marks, perhaps from having been placed in a bezel.
Ex Long Valley River Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XX, 30 October 2020, lot 979;
Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XXIII, 14-15 January 2020, lot 1160.
The Augustale was a denomination introduced to Sicily by Frederick I in 1231. As Holy Roman Emperor as well as King of Sicily, he clearly wanted to draw parallels between himself and the emperors of Roman antiquity. Although not based on a specific ancient coin, the similarities in imagery and design between this coin and an aureus of the early empire are impossible to ignore - the classical laureate, draped and cuirassed bust in profile follows the same scheme as these earlier coins. The eagle on the reverse was less commonly seen but the stance of the bird with wings spread and head turned back bears remarkably similarity, for example, to aurei issued by Domitian (RIC II.1 143).
Frederick I of Sicily, who later became Frederick II when he ascended to the throne of the Holy Roman Empire, ruled over a considerable territory spreading across much of Italy and Germany. In 1225 he also became 'King of Jerusalem' by virtue of marriage to Isabella II of Jerusalem, heiress to the kingdom, seeing to it that his father-in-law was dispossessed with his title transferred to the emperor. Yet despite his power over many countries and cities, Frederick was unable to prevail over the papacy. The Popes during this period mistrusted the emperor on both moral and political grounds; Frederick was reported to have said that Moses, Christ and Mohammed were imposters and Pope Gregory IX went so far as to declare the emperor 'preambulus Antichristi' (herald of the Antichrist).
Frederick was excommunicated from the Catholic church three times during his reign, although the instances of his excommunication seem to have been more political manoeuvring than in reaction to any specific moral deficiency on the behalf of the emperor. The Papal States were surrounded by land under Frederick's rule and the fear of losing their independence and the authority of the church being taken over by the imperial powers led to much of the tension between the two parties. Frederick's first excommunication by Gregory IX was due to his failure to complete his crusading promises made on his coronation; the emperor's abstention from the crusades in question was however due to an epidemic that afflicted both him and his troops. Gregory, it seems, wished to keep Frederick from any position of power within or over the church and in doing so to reduce his moral credibility as ruler.
After years of antagonism, the final break with the papacy came when Frederick installed his son Enzio as King of Sardinia by marrying him to Adelasia of Torres, the widow of Ubaldo II Visconti in 1238; upon the marriage, Enzo by jure uxoris would accede to the Sardinian Giudicati of Logudoro (Torres) and Gallura, covering the northern half of the Sardinia island. The Papal States had suzerainty over Sardinia and this open act of defiance against the papacy's power in this region caused Frederick to be excommunicated once again, clearly as a punishment for this power grab. In 1250 Frederick died unexpectedly from illness amidst brutal battles with the Papacy; within 22 years of his death all of his heirs had been killed in the continuing struggle and the Papacy retained their power over the Papal States.