County of Tripoli, Crusader Imitation Dirham in the Name of al-Zahir Ghazi

Includes glass top leatherette display box.

• Origin: Crusader States, County of Tripoli
• Authority: Issued by crusaders in the name of al-Zahir Ghazi, an Ayyubid ruler of Aleppo
• Date: 1218 - 1241 CE
• Denomination: AR (silver) dirham
• Obverse: Inscription in and besides six-pointed star. al-Malik al-Zahir Ghazi Ibn Yusuf Bin Ayyub: "The ruler as-Zahir Ghazi, son of Saladin," Darab bi Halab sanat arbet eshr wa sitt mia: "Struck in Aleppo in the year [date]."
• Reverse: Inscription in and besides six-pointed star
• Notes: A Crusader imitation dirham is a type of coin minted by the newly established Crusader states in the Levant, which were supported by the Catholic Church. They were meant to imitate the local Islamic currency, and even included Arabic script, though this was sometimes poorly replicated and hard to read. The coins adopted designs from older rulers to help promote economic stability and a smoother transition of power in conquered regions. Such imitation coins would be banned by the pope in the mid-13th century, but this did not stop the practice.

All purchases include a Certificate of Authenticity. You will receive the exact item in the photos.