Watch List notes:

ARTUQIDS of HISN KAYFA AND AMID. Fakhr al-Din Qara Arslan, AD 1144-1174 (AH 539-570 ). AE Dirham (Bronze, 30mm, 7.30 g 6). Bearded figure of Christ with nimbus cruciger, seated facing on high-backed throne, wearing pallium and colobium; right arm resting on arm of throne, left arm across chest holding book of Gospels. Ruler's epithet Mu 'în Amîr al-mu'minîn (Helper of the Commander of the Faithful) vertically to right and left in Arabic; all within a double beaded circle; pseudo countermark: two intertwined dragons, vis-à-vis within hexalobe. Rev. Arabic legend in three lines continuing to the right, top and left, giving the ruler's titles, names and pedigree back three generations (but omitting the grandfather Sukman); all within a double beaded circle. The calligraphy is in simple Kufic but includes an unusual number of diacritical points. S&S 2.4. Very rare. A particularly nice example with a dark patina and some sand deposits as found. Unusually nice for the type, especially with this beautiful reverse. Minor striking flatness on the obverse, otherwise, extremely fine.