Ottoman Empire. Murad III. AH 982-1003 / AD 1574-1595. EL Dinar (35mm, 4.22 g, 12h). Tilimsan (Tlemcen) mint. Dated AH 995 (AD 1586/7). Sultan 9658; Pere -; Album 1331. Small edge split, typical weak striking at periphery. VF.
The Ottomans and Spanish fought for control of Tlemcen during the first half of the 9th/16th century, with the local Ziyanid rulers often reduced to puppets of one side or the other. The Ottomans eventually prevailed, and the last of the Ziyanids fled to Oran, living under Spanish protection. Rather than issuing standard sultanis at Tlemcen, the victorious Ottomans continued to strike a local coinage of dinars which resembled Ziyanid issues both in design and in weight.
