Copper Follario of Roger II of Sicily c. 1130 - 1154

Editor: This is a Copper Follario of Roger II of Sicily. It's quite small. The imagery seems stylized and symbolic. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a claim to power, cleverly masked in numismatic art. How does a ruler, especially one of disputed origins, legitimize himself? Roger II, through this coin, links himself to both Byzantine and Islamic traditions, cultures he ruled over, creating a new, syncretic identity. Editor: So, it’s not just currency, but also propaganda? Curator: Precisely. It speaks volumes about Roger's ambition and the complex cultural landscape of 12th-century Sicily. Editor: I never thought about coins in that way before. It's amazing how much they can tell us about a ruler’s approach to identity and authority.