Crusader Jerusalem Saracenic Bezant Imitation Fatimid Gold Dinar of Al-Amer XF

Description: An extremely fine Crusader Gold Dinar or Bezant (Saracenic Bezant) struck during the time of King Baldwin I or Baldwin II. This gold coin is an imitation of the coinage of the Fatimid Caliph al-Amer or al-Amir. Al-Amer is referred to as al-Imam al-Mansur and ruled in the period 495-524 AH (1101-1130 AD). This bezant was struck in Jerusalem in the period 1100-1131 AD and shows no readable mint name or date. As is the case with these coins, it has illegible highly stylized imitation Arabic Kufic calligraphy. Please carefully review the photos presented as it is part and parcel of our description.

Date: Sometime in the period 1143-1163.

Mint: Most likely Jerusalem.

Size and Weight: This is an imitation gold Fatimid dinar, weighs ~3.44 grams and is ~23 mm in diameter.

References: It is FR-1a.

Condition: I would grade this coin as extremely fine with a well centered strike and is nicely toned. The coin is much better than the scan suggests. The coin does show light wear at and a small planchet crack. Other than that, the coin is very nice and would make a nice addition to your collection. Please see photo for additional condition information.

Historic Perspective: During the reign of al-Mustansir 427-487 AH (1036-1094 AD) and continuing through the times of al-Amer 495-524 AH (1101-1130 AD), the European crusaders occupying Palestine were issuing gold dinars or Bezants, which looked like al-Mustansir's and al-Amer's dinars. The coinage was purposely issued to look like Fatimid coinage which was the coinage used for commerce in the Mediterranean basin. These dinars were made of gold but were usually of lower weight and purity, which resulted in compromising the international gold standard based in Egypt at the time.