Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem Seventh Crusade 1248-54 Silver Dirham

Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem Silver Dirham 1253-1260 AD

A Crusader imitation of a Damascus type of the Ayyubid al-Salih Ismail, c. 13th century AD.

A Crusader imitation dirham is a type of coin minted by the newly established Crusader states in the Levant and at the Acre mint.

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, around the time this coin was made, but this did not stop the practice.

Metcalf 233 – 6

Very Fine and Scarce

sold with dealer’s old ticket