Triton XVI, Lot: 1525. Estimate $40000. Sold for $35000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SPAIN, Castile & León. Alfonso IX el Baboso (the Slobberer). King of León, 1188-1230. AV Maravedi – Morabetino (27mm, 3.85 g, 6h). Salamanca mint. + ΛIFONS : DEI : GRΛCIΛ : REX (triple pellet stops), crowned bust left; before, cross-tipped scepter on crescen, flanked by stars; sword behind / + INNE : PΛTRIS : IFLI : ISPS : SCI (triple pellet stops), lion rampant right. ME 1076; Friedberg 47. VF. Extremely rare.

Prior to the 12th century, the majority of gold coins circulating in Christian Spain were Islamic in origin. The rulers of Léon did not strike their own gold until the reign of Fernando II, the father of Alfonso. The name of this gold coin was derived from the main source of Islamic gold: the Almoravid (Arabic al-Murabitun) kingdom of North Africa.