CNG 100, Lot: 485. Estimate $500. Sold for $425. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CRUSADERS, County of Tripoli. Imitation Bezants. 11th-12th centuries. AV Bezant (24mm, 3.37 g, 5h). Imitating a dinar of the Fatimid caliph al-Mustansir. Tripolis (Tripoli) mint. Third phase, after 1187-1260 or later. Kalima in four lines, ali above; four annulets in inner margin; mint formula and AH date in outer margin / Name and titles of al-Mustansir in three lines, ma’ad above; "Second Symbol" (Quran 9: 33) in outer margin. Balog & Yvon 11 var. (annulets also on rev.); Metcalf, Crusades, –; CCS 5a var. (same). VF, lightly toned, areas of weak strike.

From the collection of Dr. Lawrence A. Adams. Ex Matthew Rich Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 53, 15 March 2000), lot 2048 (first coin).