Ayyubid Silver Coin Dimishq Mint Dirham Al-Adil Abu Bakr I 598-610 AH VF+
Description: Nice very fine silver dirham from the times of Al-Adil Abu Bakr I, the Ayyubid Sultan who ruled Egypt and Syria in the period 596-615 AH (1199 - 1218 AD). Al-Adil Abu Bakr is the fourth sultan of the Ayyubid dynasty. He ascended the throne upon the death of his predecessor al-Mansur Muhammad, who ruled for a short period. His full name being, Al-Adil Sayf al-Din Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Ayyub. This small flan coin does not show the mint name or the year of minting. The coin shows the name of Al-Adil and is of the style of Balog 281 with the festooned double trefoil pattern. It has the central inscription described in Balog 281 suggesting that it was minted in Dimishq and again according to Balog, this type of coin was minted in Damascus in the period 598 through 610AH. However, Album suggests this type of dirham was struck in the period 598-609AH only. Album further suggest that only 15-20% of known examples of this coin show the date. Please carefully review the scan presented as it is part and parcel of our description.
Date: The coin was minted in the period 598 AH through 610 AH or 1202 - 1213 AD.
Mint: Although not shown on the coin it was struck in Dimishq, current day Damascus the capital of Syria.
Size and Weight: This is a dirham , weighs ~2.8 grams and is ~20 mm in diameter.
References: It is Album #803, it is listed in Balog as 281, and is listed as 1381 and 1382 in Lane Poole's Catalog of the Khedivial Collection.
Condition: I would grade this coin as a toned good very fine or better. It has clear, very well defined and legible calligraphy. the coin has wear commensurate with its age and circulated state. It has great eye appeal and would make a great addition to your collection. Please note the coin itself is much better than the photos suggest with very well defined and legible calligraphy. A definite quality coin. Please see photos for additional condition information.
Historic Perspective: The Ayyubids were one of the great Islamic dynasties. The dynasty was founded by al-Nasir Salah al-Din Yusuf I (Saladin) in AH 564/1169 AD and ruled in Egypt and Syria until falling to the Mamluks in the mid 7th century AH. The Ayyubids are of Kurdish origins. Saladin and his brother Shirquah were recruited among others by the Zangid Nur Al-Din. Shirquah gained control over Egypt from the fatimids, and died almost immediately, leaving his nephew Salah El-Din Ibn Ayyub as his successor and soon was recognized by his troops. Saladin (probably the most respected figure of the middle ages by both friends and foes) was the real founder of the Dynasty. With his victory at Hittin in 583 AH/ 1187 AD, the holy city of Jerusalem was liberated from the crusaders and great event in Muslim history. He extinguished the last Fatimids of Egypt and replaced the Isma’ili Shiism by a strongly Orthodox Sunni religious and educational policy.
Al-Adil Abu Bakr I was the younger brother of Salah al-Din (Saladin). He ruled after the direct descendants of Saladin completed their rule and died. He was succeeded by his son al-Kamil Mohammad. He ruled for 19 years and issued gold coins, which continued to look like the Fatimid Dinars.
