278, Lot: 522. Estimate $200. Sold for $1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ISLAMIC, Anatolia & al-Jazira (Post-Seljuk). Artuqids (Kayfa & Amid). Fakhr al-Din Qara Arslan. AH 543-570 / AD 1148-1174. Æ Dirhem (28mm, 9.97 g, 4h). Dated AH 570 (AD 1174). Draped facing bust; date to left; to right, small winged figure facing left, holding bow / Name, titles, and pedigree of Qara Arlsan; to left and right, name and title of the Abbasid Caliph al-Mustanjid. S&S Type 8; Album 1280.8. Good VF, brown patina. Extremely rare.

This issue dates to five years after the death of Caliph al-Mustanjid. Spengler and Sayles (p. 24) note: “The use of the Caliph’s name so long after his death suggests possible unwillingness on the part of Qara Arlsan to recognize the new Calip, al-Mustadi.”