Medieval is far from my main collecting interests, but this coin is still one of my most interesting mixed lot finds to date. It's a large bronze from 11th century Calabria, struck in the name of a Norman conqueror, Roger de Hauteville. On the obverse is the Great Count himself, armoured and on horseback, carrying a swallow-tail shield and banner over his shoulder. On the reverse, Virgin Mary is seated and holding a nimbate Christ Child. The flat strike to the left obliterates some of the legend, but I'm glad the cross and MARIA are bold and clear. All in all, it's a big, impressive coin with striking devices. I'd be happy to see any related types that anyone has . ITALY, NORMANS IN CALABRIA Roger I, AD 1072-1101 AE Trifollaro 11.13g, 29.4mm Mileto mint, circa 1098-1101 Travaini 160; Sambon 876; Biaggi 1583 O: ROG-E-RIVS COME-S (Count Roger), Roger, armored, on horseback left, holding banner and swallow-tail shield. R: + MARIA MATER DNI (Mary Mother of Our Lord), Virgin Mary, nimbate, enthroned right, holding the nimbate Christ Child. Roger I 'Bosso', the Great Count of Sicily, was the son of a petty Norman lord whose adventures in Italy with his brother, Robert Guiscard, in the mid 11th century, led to their conquering almost all of Calabria. From there, they staged successful invasions of Sicily and Malta and drove out the Moors, who had ruled there for over two hundred years. Local tradition in Malta has it that in gratitude of Roger's heroic liberation of the island, the Maltese adopted the colours of his coat-of-arms as their national flag.
Hi, zumbly, nice coin. I think I have a 'Roger' somewhere. Yes. Here it is - Roger I. 1072 - 1101 He was around between, (in England), 'Edward The Confessor' and 'Richard The Lionheart' . Remember, 'Battle of Hastings' in 1066. Norman conquest.
An interesting coin with a good story. Now that flag origin myth is apparently ... well, a myth according to Maltese historians such as Godfrey Wettinger. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Malta#Colours Christian
If I ever reenter the area of medieval coins, 'Z', Your OP coin is one I would happily add to my collection!! I love the details and devices !!!
Very cool addition, Z-Bro ... congrats Ummm, I have a nimbate-example from around the same time period (wanna see?) Byzantine, Anonymous AE Follis Class G Date: 1068-1071 AD Diameter: 26.5 mm Weight: 10.2 grams Obverse: Bust of Christ facing Reverse: Facing bust of the Virgin, nimbate
All I've ever seen are the scrappy little follaros of Roger II, and they've left me unimpressed with the coinage of the Norman kings of Sicily. This is a great coin and a great type.
oh wow, that's a cool coin Z and TC. you don't see big, bronze coins from the west other than the byzantines much.
