Sale: CNG 64, Lot: 1545. Estimate $2000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 24 September 2003.  Sold For $2000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Norman Kings of Sicily. Conrad II (Conradin). 1254-1258 and 1267-1268. AV Tari (1.67 gm). Messina mint. Eagle facing with outstretched wings, head left; \ to right / IC +C NI KA around cross. Cf. Spahr 164; cf. MEC 14, pg. 189. EF. Extremely rare. ($2000)

Conrad II was only two years old when his father, Conrad I died, and the boy spent his youth at the royal court in Bavaria, while first Berthold and then Manfred ruled in Sicily as his regents. Manfred deposed Conrad II in 1258, but it was not until 1267 that the rightful king could move against his uncle. Conrad II was defeated and executed in 1268. His rare coinage probably belongs to the period of the regency, 1254-1258, but it is possible that it was struck during the brief foray of Conrad II into Italy in 1267-1268. There is a close stylistic similarity between this coin and the taris of Frederic II struck after his return to Italy in 1220, with its classicizing imperial eagle and the use of IC +C instead of the normal IC XC. Was Conrad II invoking the memory of his grandfather upon his return to his Italian estates?