Watch List notes:

BAHRI MAMLUK, BAYBARS II (708-709h), Dinar, al-Qahira, date off flan. OBVERSE: In field: al-Mansuri | al-sultan al-malik | al-muzaffar Rukn al-dunya wa'l-din | Abu'l-Fath Baybars Qasim | amir al-mu'minin; Inmargin: partial legend ...illa Allah Muhammad rasul.... REVERSE: In field: duriba bi'l-Qahira | la ilaha illa Allah | Muhammad rasul Allah | arsulahu bi'l-huda | wa din al-haqq; Inmargin: vestiges of legend. WEIGHT: 4.61g. CONDITION: Some marginal weakness, good very fine and of the highest rarity, apparently unpublished. NOTE: These two pieces appear to be the first published gold coins of the short-lived ruler Baybars II. Balog and Album both report only silver and copper issues for this ruler. Baybars II came to power after the abdication of Muhammad I in 708h. He had previously been Muhammad's governor in Egypt, suppressing a rebellion there in 701h. Baybars also served in the Mamluk army which defeated the Mongols at Marj al-Saffar in 702h, a victory which put an end to Mongol incursions into Syria. He was also entrusted with the prestigious, if potentially hazardous, position of the Sultan's official food-taster. His short reign was marked by economic and political unrest and, after riots on the streets of Cairo, Baybars II fled the city. Muhammad I returned to rule in his stead and Baybars himself was captured and executed, having ruled only ten months and twenty-four days.

Estimate: £6,000-8000