CNG 100, Lot: 482. Estimate $500. Sold for $750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CRUSADERS, County of Tripoli. Imitation Bezants. 12th-13th centuries. AV Bezant (23mm, 3.92 g, 1h). Imitating a dinar of the Fatimid caliph al-Mustansir. Tripolis (Tripoli) mint. First phase, before 1148/59. Kalima in four lines, lillah above; three pellets in inner margin; mint formula and AH date in outer margin / Name and titles of al-Mustansir in four lines, ma’ad above; three pellets in inner margin; "Second Symbol" (Quran 9: 33) in outer margin. Cf. Balog & Yvon 2 (for type); Metcalf, Crusades, 484; cf. CCS 2 (for type). VF, a few deposits, slightly wavy flan. Rare.

From the collection of Dr. Lawrence A. Adams, purchased from Greg Cole, June 1999.