Augustale – The Peace Coin of Frederick II

It is the new honor awarded by the Federico II Study Center to personalities who have distinguished themselves for their merits. The honor was presented by the Study Center in a world premiere in Rome on June 17, 2024 at the Circolo del Ministero degli Affari Esteri.

Brief history of the Augustale.

In 1231, Emperor Frederick II of Swabia (1194 – 1250) began issuing a new currency that is now precious and very rare, the gold augustale, a symbol of an age of rebirth and modernization for the Kingdom of Sicily.

In that year, in fact, a period of disorder and war had just ended. Pope Gregory IX had excommunicated the Emperor, because he continued to postpone the crusade he had promised to undertake against the Muslims.

Frederick, however, despite the excommunication, still left for the East at the head of the Sixth Crusade, and managed to reconquer Jerusalem without shedding blood: a peaceful agreement stipulated with the sultan al-Malik al-Kāmil (1179 – 1238) was in fact enough to guarantee that the Holy Places and Jerusalem returned to the Crusaders.

Upon his return to Italy, Frederick managed to re-establish order with weapons and finally reach an agreement with the Pope, the Treaty of San Germano, which was signed in Anagni in 1230.

Having re-established peace with both the “infidels” and the pontiff, Frederick was finally able to dedicate himself to resolving some important legal issues.

It is in this climate of rebirth and peace that the augustal was born, the precious gold coin desired by Frederick II and issued by the mints of Messina and Brindisi and called by Frederick II the coin of Peace.

The engraver of the augustal was the goldsmith from Messina Balduino Pagano, who created the above-mentioned coin.

On the obverse, the coin features the bust of Frederick II crowned with laurel and the inscription CESAR AVG IMP ROM. On the reverse, instead, the Roman eagle with outstretched wings, symbol of imperial power, and the inscription FRIDE RICVS.

Frederick’s augustal, symbol of an era of peace and prosperity, has been faithfully reproduced today, in gilded cast brass (thanks to the intervention of Master Sculptor Mauro Gelardi and in collaboration with Master Foundryman Ettore Machì and Master Silversmith Roberto Ventimiglia) and is the new honor conferred by the Federico II Study Center to personalities of the highest level.