The complex inv(OH)2[12-MC(Zn)2 + (N(pko))-4], 1, is the first example of a charged reversed analog of a 12-metallacrown-4. The structure poises charged zinc atoms toward a central cavity that contains two mu 3-bridging bridging OH- groups. This molecule illustrates how metallacrowns may be modified to serve primarily as anion recognition agents and is conceptually related to anticrowns such as 12-mercuracarborand-4.