409, Lot: 790. Estimate $100. Sold for $260. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ISLAMIC, Mamluks. al-Zahir Rukn al-Din Baybars I. AH 658-676 / AD 1260-1277. AR Dirham (20mm, 2.53 g, 5h). al-Quahira (Cairo) mint. Dated AH 669 (AD 1270/1). Naskh legend: al-Salihi | al-sultan al-malik | al-Zahir Rukn al-Dunya wa al-Din | Baybars qasim amir al-mu'minin (The good | Sultan, Prince, | Manifest Pillar of the World and of the Faith | Baybars, associate of the Commander of the Faithful); below, lion passant left flanked by three pellets / Central Naskh legend: la ilah illa Allah | Muhammad rasuluallah | arsalahu bi'l-huda (There is no diety except God | Muhammad is the messenger of God | He sent him with guidance); marginal Naskh legend, counterclockwise from the top: [duriba al-Quahira] | sanat tis' | wa sittin | [wa] sitt mi'at ([Struck in Cairo] | year nine | and sixty | [and] six-hundred). Balog, Mamluk 85; SICA 6, –; Album 883. VF, toned. Clear mint and date, rare thus.

From the BRN Collection.

During the period in which this coin is dated, 20 August 1270 - 9 August 1271, Christian Europe launched the final crusades into the Holy Lands, largely in response to Baybars' capture of Antioch in 1268. Louis IX of France (the latter 'St. Louis') called for an Eighth Crusade in 1267, but it was not until the fall of Antioch that he and his brother, Charles of Anjou, were able to gather the requisite forces. The army landed on the African coast in July 1270, but almost immediately most of the men fell ill due to the poor conditions. Louis soon died, and by 30 October, Charles called off the siege of Tunis, effectively ending the Crusade. Baybars intended on sending forces to help the Muslim forces, but decided not to upon hearing of Louis' death. Meanwhile, Edward I of England gathered forces to assist the Eighth Crusade, but arrived as it ended. Nonetheless, he, along with Charles of Anjou, continued on to Acre, marking the beginning of the Ninth Crusade. Edward arrived in Acre in May 1271, just as Baybars was beginning to besiege Tripoli, the only other city remaining in the hands of the Crusaders. Baybars was forced to end his siege as the Crusaders were able to effectively disrupt his lines of communication to Egypt. Also, Edward formed an alliance with the Ilkhans, who began attacking Baybars' allies in Aleppo, but their advances were no more than raids and had no lasting effect. Over the fall and winter months, little territory changed hands, and both sides eventually entered into negotiations for a long-lasting peace treaty. The negotiations nearly failed due to an assassination attempt on Edward's life, but the death of his father, Henry III, necessitated his return to England, so he completed a hasty treaty and withdrew, leaving Baybars' power in the region relatively unscathed by the Crusade.