Follaro Denomination: Italian and Adriatic Medieval Coins

Illustrated Specimen Details: Bronze Follaro

Example Specimen: Follaro, 1166-1189 (Kingdom of Sicily)

Authority & Heraldry: Issued during the reign of William II the Good, the Norman King of Sicily, between 1166-1189. The coin is struck in a unique Arab-Norman style, reflecting the cultural integration in Sicily following the expulsion of the Arabs by the Normans. The obverse features a Latin legend: REX W SCYS (King William, Sicily) and OPERA[TO IN] VR[BE] MESSANE (Made in the city of Messina). The reverse displays an Arabic (Kufic) script with the central inscription "King William the Second" surrounded by the phrase "Struck by order of the King, empowered by the grace of God". In numismatic catalogs, this specific piece is often classified as a Mezzo Follaro (Half Follaro).

1. ITALIAN STATES (9th-15th centuries) — Kingdom of Sicily, Duchy of Naples, Republic of Venice: 72 follaro = 1 tari
2. CROATIAN STATES (13th-17th centuries) — Republic of Ragusa, City of Zara: 30 follaro = 1 grosso
3. ALBANIAN STATES (14th-15th centuries) — City of Drivast, Lordship of Krujë, City of Shkodër: 30 follaro = 1 grosso
4. MONTENEGRIN STATES (14th-16th centuries) — City of Antivari, City of Cattaro, City of Dulcigno, City of Svač: 1 follaro = 2 obulus (30 follaro = 1 grosso)

The name "Follaro" derives from the Byzantine Greek word "follis", meaning "money bag" or "large bronze coin". Originating in the medieval Mediterranean, it was a common copper or billon coin used by numerous state entities along the Adriatic Sea and in Southern Italy. Because of its low face value, the follaro served as essential small change for everyday market commerce.

History and Significance

The follaro was one of the most enduring small-change medieval denominations in Southern Europe. It emerged as a direct descendant of the Byzantine monetary tradition, adapting to the needs of local Mediterranean economies over several centuries.

Arab-Norman Coinage of Sicily

Follaros from the Norman Kingdom of Sicily, particularly from the 12th century under kings such as Roger II and William II, are notable for their multicultural design. Sicily was historically influenced by a succession of cultures: Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Arabs, and finally the Normans. The combination of Latin and Arabic inscriptions on a single coin vividly illustrates the transitional stage of society following the Norman conquest, where the new rulers integrated the established local administrative and cultural practices.

Mediterranean Expansion

Originally appearing in southern Italy during the 9th century as imitations of Byzantine coins, the follaro eventually spread across the Adriatic coast. It was produced en masse by cities and states in modern Italy, Albania, Croatia, and Montenegro. Minting even reached the Genoese fortress of Caffa (modern Feodosia, Ukraine) and the colony of Licostomo (modern Romania). Due to its low purchasing power, it was the primary currency handled by ordinary citizens, making pristine surviving specimens a rarity in modern numismatics.