Watch List notes:

ISLAMIC, Anatolia & al-Jazira (Post-Seljuk). Artuqids (Mardin). Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan, AH 597-637 / AD 1200-1239. Dirham (Bronze, 29 mm, 13.61 g, 9 h), Mardin, AH 599 = AD 1203. Crowned Centaur-archer running to right, stretching bow whose arrow is aimed at the wide-open jaws of dragon emerging from Centaur's tail; around, mint and date in Kufic. Rev. Legend in ornamental Kufic in four lines, 'al-Nasir li-din Allah Amir / al-Mu'minin al-Malik / al-'Adil Abu Bakr / Malik Diyarbakr Na'; Legend continues in Kufic around, 'sir al-Din / Artuq Ar-/slan / ibn Ayyub'. Spengler & Sayles 38.2. Repatinated and with cleaning scratches, otherwise, very fine.


From an Australian collection, ex Solidus 9, 8 October 2016, 801 and Künker 236, 7 October 2013, 1453.