ITALY. Sicilia (Regno). Federico I (Federico II, Sacro Romano Impero), 1198-1250. Multiplo di Tarí (Gold, 14 mm, 5.14 g, 9 h), Messina or Brindisi, 1220-1250. •F•IMPERATOR Eagle with spread wings, its head between two pellets. Rev. Long cross between IC - ✠C / HI - KA. Friedberg -. MEC 14, 513 var. (differing weight). MIR 71. Spahr 97. Rare and exceptionally well struck, a wonderful piece. Removed from NGC encapsulation, graded MS 63. Minor edge splits, otherwise, good extremely fine.


Federico I of Sicily is perhaps better known as Frederick II, or Friedrich II von Hohenstaufen. A grandson of the legendary Frederick Barbarossa (1122-1190), he would go on to be crowned King of Sicily, King of Germany, Holy Roman Emperor, and King of Jerusalem. Though he technically ruled over a vast domain stretching from Central Europe to Sicily and even the Holy Land, his primary focus remained on his Italian holdings - often bringing him into conflict with the Papacy. Indeed, he was excommunicated no less than three times.

Despite his turbulent relationship with the Church, Frederick proved to be a shrewd diplomat, famously recovering Jerusalem and its surrounding territories from the Ayyubids in 1229 without resorting to war. He was also a passionate patron of the arts, fostering the development of Sicilian poetry and even authoring a treatise on falconry. As a legal reformer, he worked to professionalize Sicily’s judiciary and bureaucracy.

His complex and commanding personality left a lasting mark on history, earning him the title stupor mundi - ‘wonder of the world’ - a testament to his ability to shape his era through sheer force of will.