Jerusalem. Christian-Arab AV Dinar (Saracenic Bezant), Acre mint, dated 1251 (Arabic alphanumeric AD date)

Lot # 665

Jerusalem. Christian-Arab AV Dinar (Saracenic Bezant), Acre mint, dated 1251 (Arabic alphanumeric AD date). Obv. Large cross pattée with annullet in the fourth quarter; • + • 'and resurrection, and through whom we are delivered and pardoned' in Arabic in inner margin; • + • 'we are glorified in the Cross of Lord Jesus the Messiah in whom we receive our salvation and life' in Arabic in outer margin. Rev. 'God and One' in Arabic in two lines; • + • 'the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit' in Arabic in inner margin; • + • mint formula and Arabic alphanumeric AD date in outer margin. BY 40; Cf. Malloy 6 (for type); Schl. pl. V, 27 (same). AV. 3.23 g. 22 mm. RR. Tiny flan crack as struck. VF. The Latin kings of Jerusalem struck imitative debased gold 'besanti sarracenati' modelled on the dinars of the Fatimid caliph al-Amir (1101-1130) from about 1148 until 1250, when they attracted the censure of the papal legate Eudes of Châteauroux, who came to Acre with Louis IX. He found it scandalous that Christians should be striking coins bearing 'the name of Mohamed and the number of years from his nativity'. The designs were promptly changed with a prominent cross and legends in Arabic proclaiming the Christian faith of the Holy Trinity with dates 'from the incarnation of the Messiah', from 1251 to 1258 AD, however, the dates on the outer margins of the coins are usually illegible.

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Closing on: 2025-10-24 14:00:00 Roma time