Normans of Sicily, William II 1166-89 bronze Tri-follaro quartered in antiquity
3.13g 20x13mm
Reference: Rodolfo Spahr Le Monete Siciliane 117
Quite what is going on is unclear – the trifollaro with the lion mask / palm tree design was only used for a few years.
As a coin was this piece cut into 4 and circulated as a follaro? This is unlikely as I cannot find another. The follis with the lion mask / arabic inscription is quite common and this is the only example.
A possibility is that it could be that quartering was to cancel the coin
or it had a secondary use- the weight at 3.13 is close to that of an Arabic Dinar.
Anyway a puzzle!
