| Kingdom of Jerusalem |
| Gold, Diam. 23 mm |
Acre, 1253-1258 AD |
| Collection of the American Numismatic Society, 1917.215.627 W: 2.876 |
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The Crusader Christians who invaded the Holy Land in the late eleventh century necessarily sought to issue these gold coins for their own use. Thus Crusader mints regularly issued more-or-less skillful imitations of Fatimid and, later, Ayyubid silver and gold coins. These Crusader issues generally bore the names of the Muslim rulers of neighboring lands, as well as the name of Mohammed, the Muslim profession of faith, and the Muslim date. As the political and military demise of this state came closer, this pattern of imitation was altered; and, as the result of the decision of papal authorities in (1250), later coinage was based on an uneasy epigraphic compromise. The coins continued to be written in Arabic, but they now recorded a Christian date and Christian religious content, as well as displaying a cross.
Written in the fluid cursive script characteristic of contemporary Ayyubid coinage, the legend on this coin's reverse circles a cross and affirms belief in Jesus Christ and hope for the resurrection. In the center of the obverse the Muslim statement "Allah is One" has been replaced by an epigraphically similar but more suitably Christian assertion of "One deity." Circling around it are the date and place of issue and the names of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. |
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