Augustale of Federico I - “Stupor Mundi” of Medieval Europe

Sale: CNG 76, Lot: 1831. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 12 September 2007.  Sold For $9600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Sicilia (Regno). Federico I (Federico II, Sacro Romano Impero). 1198-1250. AV Augustale (5.22 g, 6h). Messina mint. Struck circa 1231-1250. Laureate and draped classical style bust right / Eagle standing left with spread wings, head right. Spahr 98; Biaggi -; MEC 14, 515; Friedberg 134. VF, toned, minor edge mark.

From Collection C.G. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 57 (4 April 2001), lot 1582.

Frederick II Hohenstaufen, “Stupor Mundi” - “Wonder of the World” - was the most enlightened ruler of the medieval European world, and single-handedly almost ignited a renaissance a century before it took hold in western Europe. Besides encouraging the study of both the ancient and natural worlds (he wrote an insightful treatise on falconry), Frederick was instrumental in improving relations with the Muslims, negotiating free access to Christian holy sites in Palestine, where all Crusader armies had been unsuccessful. One of his innovations was a gold coinage comparable in style and quality to the gold of the ancient Caesars. The classical motifs proclaimed his inheritance of the legacy of Rome, and the augustale was issued concurrently with the publication of the Constitution of Melfi, his codification of Norman law meant to follow the famous Roman law codes. The augustale was struck until Frederick's death in 1250, and may have been continued by his successors for about another fifteen years.