Medieval, Crusaders Era Silver rare square Dirham, Spain and Almohad
04
days
09
hours
56
minutes
57
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Current bid
€ 50
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 200 - € 250
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Rare square silver dirham from the Almohad Caliphate (1121–1269 AD), Crusader era, with Kufic inscriptions on both faces; very fine condition, approx. 15 mm, acquired from an antique market in the Netherlands in 2024, authenticity original/official.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Crusader era, silver square Dirham, Islamic states Almohad Caliphate 1121-1269 AD (AH 558-668).
The coin minted by the Almohad Caliphate show finely executed Arabic inscriptions on both faces within linear borders; one face displaying the Shahada (profession of faith), the other with the ruler’s titles and pious legends in elegant Kufic script.
Size: ± 15 - 15,1 mm
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
Very fine condition, signs of wear consistent with age and use.
-> The coins minted by the Almohad Caliphate have Arabic script showing mint marks and declarations of faith. They are usually anonymous, meaning that they are not attributable to any single ruler.
Numerous theories have emerged regarding the square shape of these coins. While their form indeed facilitated cutting them from larger pieces of silver, most believe that the square shape was a deliberate design decision.
These square shaped silver dirham coins are typical of the Almohad period when the Almohad Dynasty controlled much of Northern Africa and Spain. They were the most powerful force in North Africa since the Roman Empire.
-> The Almohads transferred the capital of Muslim Iberia from Córdoba to Seville where they founded a great mosque and built the Al-Muwarak palace (modern-day Alcázar of Seville).
In the 12th century two major Muslim powers made a strategic alliance to face the Christian Crusades. The Almohad Caliphate established a partnership with Sultan Saladin's Ayyubid Egypt. This resulted in the siege and capture of Jerusalem in 1187 AD by the united forces under Saladin.
An Almohad battalion also participated in attacks against Christians and tried to take Constantinople.
In al-Andalus the Almohad Caliphate was defeated by the combined Christian forces of Portugal, Castile, and Aragon at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, in 1212 AD. Their power continued to decline and by 1270 the Almohads were no longer a force of any significance.
Material:
This object has been carefully examined for its material and surface characteristics.
Laboratory analysis (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting, and destructive testing is avoided as it causes permanent damage to archaeological material.
Before modern hallmarking, gold and silver alloys varied depending on local resources, recycling practices and economic conditions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Crusader era, silver square Dirham, Islamic states Almohad Caliphate 1121-1269 AD (AH 558-668).
The coin minted by the Almohad Caliphate show finely executed Arabic inscriptions on both faces within linear borders; one face displaying the Shahada (profession of faith), the other with the ruler’s titles and pious legends in elegant Kufic script.
Size: ± 15 - 15,1 mm
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
Very fine condition, signs of wear consistent with age and use.
-> The coins minted by the Almohad Caliphate have Arabic script showing mint marks and declarations of faith. They are usually anonymous, meaning that they are not attributable to any single ruler.
Numerous theories have emerged regarding the square shape of these coins. While their form indeed facilitated cutting them from larger pieces of silver, most believe that the square shape was a deliberate design decision.
These square shaped silver dirham coins are typical of the Almohad period when the Almohad Dynasty controlled much of Northern Africa and Spain. They were the most powerful force in North Africa since the Roman Empire.
-> The Almohads transferred the capital of Muslim Iberia from Córdoba to Seville where they founded a great mosque and built the Al-Muwarak palace (modern-day Alcázar of Seville).
In the 12th century two major Muslim powers made a strategic alliance to face the Christian Crusades. The Almohad Caliphate established a partnership with Sultan Saladin's Ayyubid Egypt. This resulted in the siege and capture of Jerusalem in 1187 AD by the united forces under Saladin.
An Almohad battalion also participated in attacks against Christians and tried to take Constantinople.
In al-Andalus the Almohad Caliphate was defeated by the combined Christian forces of Portugal, Castile, and Aragon at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, in 1212 AD. Their power continued to decline and by 1270 the Almohads were no longer a force of any significance.
Material:
This object has been carefully examined for its material and surface characteristics.
Laboratory analysis (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting, and destructive testing is avoided as it causes permanent damage to archaeological material.
Before modern hallmarking, gold and silver alloys varied depending on local resources, recycling practices and economic conditions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Medieval, Crusaders Era
Century/timeframe
1121-1269
Name of object
rare square Dirham, Spain and Almohad
Acquired from
Antique market
Year acquired
2024
Material
Silver
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Previous owner - year acquired
2024
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
