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.