Leu Numismatik AG
Web Auction 14 12-13 Dec 2020
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
ISLAMIC, Anatolia & al-Jazira (Post-Seljuk). Artuqids (Mardin). Najm al-Din Alpi, AH 547-572 / AD 1152-1176. Dirham (Bronze, 28 mm, 11.37 g, 10 h), without mint and date. Large diademed male head to right; below, [laqab of Najm al-Din Alpi]. Rev. Legend in Kufic in three lines, 'Malik al-Umara / Abu al-Muzaffar / Alpi ibn; Legend around in Kufic, 'Il-Ghazi / Timurtash ibn / ibn Artuq'. Spengler & Sayles 27. Struck somewhat off center and with minor areas of weakness, otherwise, good very fine.
From an important collection of Ayyubid and post-Seljuk coins.
The head on the obverse of this issue was copied from tetradrachms of the Seleukid King Antiochos VII (138-129 BC), who lived almost 1300 years before Najm al-Din Alpi. Time-wise, this is the equivalent of the portrait of the Byzantine emperor Leo III (717-741) appearing on a modern coin!
From an important collection of Ayyubid and post-Seljuk coins.
The head on the obverse of this issue was copied from tetradrachms of the Seleukid King Antiochos VII (138-129 BC), who lived almost 1300 years before Najm al-Din Alpi. Time-wise, this is the equivalent of the portrait of the Byzantine emperor Leo III (717-741) appearing on a modern coin!