Unique Lombardic Seal

CNG 90, Lot: 1980. Estimate $1000. Sold for $4250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LOMBARDS, Salerno. Guaifer, with Guaimar I. 861-880. PB Seal (32mm, 31.64 g, 12h). Struck 877-880. [V]VΛFΛRI VVΛHΛ, crowned, draped, and cuirassed half-length facing bearded bust of Guaifer; to right, crowned and draped half-length facing bust of Guaimar I, holding sheathed sword / MHΛIL ΛRHΛNCELVS, draped and cuirassed half-length facing bust of Archangel Michael, holding sheathed sword. Unpublished. EF, earthen gray-green patina with traces of red, a few hard earthen deposits. Unique.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 61 (25 September 2002), lot 2194; Vecchi 14 (5 February 1999), lot 1410.

Ruling as its prince from 861 until 880 when he retired in favor of his son, Guaimar, Guaifer (or Guaifar) was connected by marriage with the rulers of Beneventum, particularly Sicard and his sons, Radelchis I and Siconulf (who became the first Prince of Salerno). Guaifer gained the Salernitan throne in 861, when he headed a popular uprising against its legitimate ruler, Adhemar. Guaifer subsequently imprisoned Adhelmar, having him blinded as well. Almost immediately after Guaifer became prince, Capua declared itself independent of Salernitan control. Capua’s prince, Pando the Rapacious, however, died shortly thereafter, throwing the principality into a lengthy succession (and independence) crisis which would eventually divide Beneventum and Salerno and involve the intervention of the Holy Roman Emperor.

Guaifer married Landaleica, the daughter of Lando I, the count of Capua, by whom he had a son, Guaimar. Beginning in 877, Guaimar shared the Salernitan throne with his father. That same year, Guaimar assisted the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles the Bald, against Muslim incursions into Italy. In 881, when his father, Guaifer, retired to the monastery at Monte Cassino and he was ruling on his own, Guaimar was himself threatened by the Muslims, as well as by Athanasius, the Duke of Naples, who now controlled Capua. To assist him in defending against the Muslims, Guaimar traveled to Constantinople, where he did homage to the emperor in return for mercenaries. In 893, Guaimar appointed his son, also named Guaimar, as co-ruler. The final years of the elder Guaimar’s reign (before his own retirement) were involved in assisting Beneventum against the Byzantines and putting down pro-Neapolitan revolts in his own territiory.