Travaini, Hohenstaufen and Angevin Denari of Sicily and Southern Italy: their Mint Attributions

Lucia Travaini, Hohenstaufen and Angevin Denari of Sicily and Southern Italy: their Mint Attributions, Royal Numismatic Society, London 1993, pp. 93-135, 10 plates, 23 cm, br. and.

The publication presents itself as an organic and in-depth update of the traditional repertoires of Swabian and Angevin denarii of the Kingdom of Sicily up to Charles I of Anjou. At the same time, through a careful examination of the sources, the systematic analysis of the finds and the proposal of new mint attributions, it offers an original contribution to the monetary history of Southern Italy in the 13th century. The text lists the entire production of denarii issued by Henry VI, Frederick II, Conrad, Corradino, Manfred and Charles I of Anjou (1194-1285), divided into 114 main types, all illustrated with drawings or photographs. Of these, at least ten are absent from Rodolfo Spahr's repertoire, having been identified only after the publication of his work (1976). The Kingdom of Sicily was administratively divided into two areas, each served by its own mint: Palermo and, subsequently, Messina for the insular part; Brindisi and, briefly, Manfredonia for the continental part. The denarii produced in the two areas were of different types, despite being theoretically intended for circulation throughout the Kingdom. However, the evidence from the finds suggests a different reality: circulation appears largely confined to the respective minting areas. In this sense, the isolated finds and hoards, carefully documented by Lucia Travaini, prove crucial for a more reliable attribution of the mints, allowing us to revise numerous traditional assignments. The picture that emerges is particularly clear: among the types attested in the finds, only two appear in both areas of the Kingdom, while all the others are limited to just one of them, indicating a substantial lack of mobility of the small coin between the two parts. Furthermore, a significant increase in denarii can be observed in isolated finds starting from around 1238, a fact which fits coherently with the financial policy of Frederick II and his successors, who resorted to progressively debased issues, employed as an effective tool for feeding the state coffers.

In excellent condition.