Post Seljuk Gigliato Imitation

345, Lot: 596. Estimate $150. Sold for $150. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ISLAMIC, Anatolia & al-Jazira (Post-Seljuk). Uncertain Beylik. 14th century. AR Gigliato (30mm, 3.63 g, 12h). Imitating a Neapolitan gigliato of Roberto I il Saggio (the Wise) d'Angiò. Uncertain Asia Minor mint. + RORЄRT DCI GRΛ IЄRL CT SICILI (wedge) X, king enthroned facing, holding lis-tipped scepter and globus cruciger; throne decorated with lions; trilobe on breast / + ЄOIICS : RΛIDЄICCT : FOI[...]OCI’ [...]I, cross fleurée; lis in quarters. Cf. Schlumberger pp. 489-90 and pl. XVIII, 18; cf. Slocum, 929; Scarfea, Imitazioni 993; Metcalf, Crusades –; CCS –; Album –. VF, toned. Rare.

Following the collapse of the Seljuqs of Rum in the early 14th century, a collection of Turkish beyliks, or small principalities, took over the regions comprising ancient Ionia, Caria, and Lydia. Many of them established friendly trading relationships with the Crusader successor states in the Aegean, and made use of copies of the Italian gigliati in their commerce. Eventually the gigliato was replaced by the Turkish akçe, as the beyliks were soon to be absorbed by the most powerful of their number, the Ottomans. Mehmet II, the conqueror of Constantinople, brought the last of the emirs under Ottoman control by 1480.