Italian Feudal Coin: Conrad I (1250-54)

Description

Billon denero
, 15mm, .47gr. Obv: +CONRADVS, central cross. Rev: +IERL'ET.SICIL', central REX or RE omega.
Mint is Messina
. Biaggi 1269; MEC 579-80; Spahr 156.
Conrad
was the son of Frederick II, HRE. In Sicily he was Conrad I, but via other German titles he was known as Conrad IV. His reign was short and ineffective and he never really established control over Sicily. This was a time of turmoil for the island, as it came into political play more dramatically than during Frederick's life. Frederick had been excommunicated and the pope was looking for someone other than a direct Hohenstaufen to take the throne. It was offered to Alphonse of Spain (who declined) and Richard, Earl of Cornwall, who also declined. He responded along the lines, says Benjamin (206) "it was like being offered the moon, provided he could take it from the sky." Charles of Anjou also initially declined and final it was accepted by Edmund, a son of the English king Henry III. However the English never paid the pope nor tried to exercise the claim and the offer was subsequently rescinded. While Conrad's reign was short, he had quite a varied coinage.
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