Artuquids of Mardin, 580-597 AH/AD 1184-1200 AD. Husam al-Din Yuluq Arslan AE Dirham

Artuqids of Mardin, Husam al-Din Yuluq Arslan, AH 580-597 / AD 1184-1200.

AE Dirham AH 589 = AD 1193

Obverse: Three figures with extended arms standing around one figure seated to left in attitude of mourning.

Reverse: 3 lines In inner field: Name and titles of Abbasid caliph in three lines; name and titles of Husam al-Din Yuluq Arslan and date in outer margin

'al-Imam al-Na/sir lil-din / Amir al-Mu'minin; around, 'al-Malik ibn Ayyub'; all in Kufic.

Reference: SS 35.21, Album 1829.3, Wilkes 1208

Weight: 12.87g Size: 30mm Condition:very fine.

The scene on the obverse has been interpreted as depicting either mourning over the death of Saladin, or an astrological event depicting Virgo, the sixth astrological sign in the Zodiac, surrounded by planets.

Sayles has argued persuasively that the scene represents an astrological event whose consequences would have been corroborated by the death of Saladin in 589, thus indeed
a lamentation scene.
This type usually has 5 lines of text within the central circle on the reverse, including the name of the Ayyubid al-‘Adil Abu Bakr. One variant (equal rarity) has only 3 lines in central circle and without citing an Ayyubid overlord.

Referencia : Spengler & Sayles 35.1

Fuente : https://www.davidmus.dk/en/collections/i...

Colección : XIII Oriental Coins