347, Lot: 680. Estimate $100. Sold for $110. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

FRANCE, Provincial. Provence (comté). Alphonse II. As King of Aragon, 1164-1196. Denier – Royal coronat (18mm, 0.98 g, 12h). Marseilles mint. Struck circa 1186-1196. + RЄX ARA GO(NE), crowned head left; annulet stops / PO VI NC IA, long cross pattée; three pellets at at end of each bar except bottom one, which has only two. Rolland 11 var. (all bars with three pellets); cf. Duplessy, Féodales 1611 (for type); Poey d'Avant 3930 var. (same). Choice EF, lustrous.

The lack of a third pellet at the bottom limb may be a result of a filled die rather than as engraved. The spacing would allow for a third pellet, but the remnant of one is in no way visible.

Mid-12th century Provence is a perfect example of the complex systems of marriage alliances that characterized European politics at the time. The Catalan rulers of Aragon desired lands in southern France, but these were held by the counts of Toulouse. As the ruler of Toulouse, Raymond IV, was excommunicated and thus out of favor of the church, Raimond-Bérenger III of Barcelona was able to obtain permission to marry Douce I, countess of Provence, and the two ruled jointly until Douce’s death. The territory would remain in Aragonese hands through the House of Barcelona until Raimond IV (V) died without male heirs in 1245. The title would then pass to his daughter, Beatrice, and her husband, Charles d’Anjou.