Medieval, Crusaders Era Silver rare square Dirham, Spain and Almohad in display case
05
days
22
hours
28
minutes
31
seconds
Current bid
€ 7
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 180 - € 220
20 other people are watching this object
 Bidder 4883 | €7 | |
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 Bidder 2129 | €6 | |
| Bidder 2129 | €5 | |
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A medieval Crusaders era square silver dirham from the Almohad Caliphate (1121–1269 AD), bearing Arabic inscriptions and delivered in a modern protective display case, in good condition with legible inscriptions and a size of about 15.1–15.4 mm (display case roughly 7 x 7 x 2 cm).
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 is bearing neatly arranged Arabic calligraphy inscriptions with religious declarations replacing figural imagery, typical of Almohad coinage.
The dirham will be delivered in a special presentation window. The case makes it easy to put on display or to store safely. The case can be opened and reused (simple push-to-open).
Size: ± 15,1 - 15,4 mm
Display: ± 7 x 7 x 2 cm
Condition: good solid condition, very fine for type. The inscriptions remain clear and legible, light edge softness. The dirham will be delivered in a modern protective display case, ready to put on display.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
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.
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 is bearing neatly arranged Arabic calligraphy inscriptions with religious declarations replacing figural imagery, typical of Almohad coinage.
The dirham will be delivered in a special presentation window. The case makes it easy to put on display or to store safely. The case can be opened and reused (simple push-to-open).
Size: ± 15,1 - 15,4 mm
Display: ± 7 x 7 x 2 cm
Condition: good solid condition, very fine for type. The inscriptions remain clear and legible, light edge softness. The dirham will be delivered in a modern protective display case, ready to put on display.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
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.
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 in display case
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2024
Material
Silver
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
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
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.
