★ Mourning over the death of Saladin? ★

ISLAMIC, Anatolia & al-Jazira (Post-Seljuk). Artuqids (Mardin). Husam al-Din Yuluq Arslan, AH 580-597 / AD 1184-1200. Dirham (Bronze, 30 mm, 13.28 g, 7 h), AH 589 = AD 1193. Three figures with extended arms standing around one figure seated to left in attitude of mourning. Rev. In inner field, 'al-Imam al-Na/sir lil-din / Amir al-Mu'minin; around, 'al-Malik al-Adil Saif al-Din Abu Bakr ibn Ayyub'; all in Kufic. Spengler & Sayles 35.2. Attractive dark patina. Very fine.

From the Tabib Collection, formed over the past 40 years.

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