Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 1796. Estimate $150.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $180. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

FRANCE, Provincial. Provence (royaume). Robert d’Anjou. 1309-1343. AR Carlin (3.72 g, 1h). Avignon mint. + ROBЄ DЄI · GRA · IЄRL ЄT · SICIL · RЄX, Robert seated facing on throne, holding lis-tipped scepter and globus cruciger; lions to left and right / + COmЄS : PUInCIЄ · ЄT · FORCALQЄRII, cross fleurée; lis in each quarter. Poey d'Avant 3982 var. (obv. legend); Boudeau 832; Roberts 6856. VF, darkly toned.

From the Leonard O. Greenfield Collection.

Born to Charles II le Boiteux (the Cripple) and Maria of Hungary, Robert d’Anjou was the hostage of Pedro III de Aragon during the Sicilian Vespers and, upon the death of his brother Charles Martel, became heir to the Sicilian crown, marrying Yolanda, the daughter of Jaime II de Aragon, in order to obtain it. Robert faced opposition by the Sicilian barons, however, and elected Federico III, a brother of Jaime. Unsuccessful in retaining Sicily, Angevin rule was then limited to the southern part of peninsular Italy. Later nicknamed “the peace-maker of Italy” on account of the numerous changes he enacted in Naples, he changed his capital from a dirty seaport to an elegant medieval city.