ROBERT GUISCARD, 1077-1085 or ROGER I, 1072-1101 FOLLARO possibly of MELFI Follaro, Melfi ? 1077-1101, Æ 1.39 g. R – O Crowned bust facing; on breast, COMIT. Rev. Palace flanked by two towers. Legend below with [SAL (low and to l. edge of flan) ERN (immediately under palace) and (below that) VRBE]. MIN 162(as a forgery). MEC XIV unlisted but discussed on pages 86-87 as a forgery. Cappelli on page 81 discusses the coin in CNI table XIX, #19, as a forgery. MIR 553 (as possible forgery). Surfaces slightly corroded and chipped edge. About very fine WJC: The above two coins have been known since the early 1800s and have been regarded by most authors as false. However, the number and variety of specimens and the patina and reported finds, including from the beach near Salerno, are suggestive that they are genuine. In spite of carrying a reverse legend that suggests they are issues of Salerno, several features make that seem unlikely. The flans are atypical, both flat and relatively thin specimens are known and the first listed specimen in this collection is scyphate. This is distinct from the relatively larger flans of the coins attributed to Robert Guiscard from Salerno. The epigraphy is different – smaller and neater on these coins. Additionally, many and perhaps most Salernitan coins have a clear undertype: the result of restriking unprepared flans. I have not seen that on these coins or other known specimens. I would suggest these are the products of another mint. The type is somewhat similar to that of Gisulf II (MIN 13 and Cappelli 21). Perhaps they are based upon that substantial issue of Gisulf but issued by his brother-in-law, Robert Guiscard from his base in Melfi, or less likely, Messina. The letters HE ligate (?ME) that are observed on at least a couple of specimens of MIN 161, including that here, would be consistent with that origin.