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). Toned, minor weakness at periphery. VF.
From the El Medina Collection.