Messina Golden coin tari of King William I 1155 A.D. - 549 A.H.

    Gold coin (quarter dinar, called the tarì) struck under the reign of William I (1154-1166) in 549 of the Moslem calendar (1155), at Sicily's second mint at Messina. The mint was already operating during the reign of Roger II (king from 1130 to 1154). The obverse continues with the new elements introduced during the reign of Roger II. The circular inscription on the field of the coin mentions the king's name and title, in Arabic, and the legend, also in Arabic, indicates the name of the mint and the date. The reverse is divided up by a large cross under the arms of which are the Greek abbreviations of the motto "Jesus Christ the Victor"; above this a small Latin cross has been added, surrounded by two roundels or bezants. The king's title, in Arabic, clearly takes its inspiration from the Moslem world: "King William, guided (al-hâdi) by the will of God (Allah)".

Dimensions of the object
Diameter 12 mm; weight 1.245 g

Bibliography
- "L'età normanna e sveva in Sicilia", Catalogo della mostra storico-documentaria e bibliografica. Organizzata dall'Assemblea Regionale Siciliana nel Palazzo dei Normanni a Palermo, 1994  (Monete serie III a cura di M. De Luca)

Location
Palermo, Biblioteca Comunale

Photography
G.  Cappellani