CRUSADERS. Christian Arabic Dirhams. Dirham (Silver, 19 mm, 2.68 g, 11 h), [ʿAkka (Akkon)], [AD 1251]. Within a square, ‘Allāh wāḥid huwa / al-īmān wāḥid / al-maʿmūdiyya wāḥida’ (‘God is one, the faith is one, the baptism is one’ in Arabic; cf. Ephesians 4:5); mint and date formula in the margin, almost entirely effaced; in field, small fleur-de-lys. Rev. Within a square, ‘al-ab wa al-ibn / wa al-rūḥ al-qudus / ilāh wāḥid’ (‘The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit: One Divinity’ in Arabic); in the margin, very weak traces of ‘lahū al-majd / ilā abad / al-abadīn / āmīn āmīn’ (‘His is the glory forever and ever, amen, amen’ in Arabic). Balog & Yvon 47. Very rare. Areas of weakness and with some scratches, otherwise, good fine.


The appearance of fleurs-de-lys on this extremely rare issue is very likely linked to the presence of Louis IX of France in Acre, where he resided from 1250 to 1251 following his release from Mamluk captivity. Louis led the Seventh Crusade, during which a large Christian force invaded Egypt in 1249. However, he suffered a crushing defeat and was captured by the Mamluks in early 1250. After 31 days in captivity, he and his entourage were released in exchange for a colossal ransom of 200,000 gold bezants.