Sicilian Onza

The Sicilian Onza was often struck from gold that had been recycled from melted Spanish coins, a practical nod to the era's frugal minting practices under Spanish rule.

This made for coins that varied slightly in weight, depending on what scraps were at hand. Minters in Sicily, like those in Palermo, aimed for consistency, but impurities from the recycled metal sometimes crept in. The obverse typically featured the bust of the reigning king, such as Philip V early on, while the reverse showed the arms of the Two Sicilies.

We don't know the exact mintage figures for most years; records were spotty even then. What survives are a few specimens that highlight the coin's role in trade across the Mediterranean.

Gold coins like this one have a habit of turning up in unexpected places, much like that old doubloon in your attic.