Lot 405. Alfonso VIII AV Morabetino 1212 AD

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Castilia. Alfonso VIII (1154-1214 AD). AV Morabetino (25 mm, 3.79 g), 1212 AD, Toledo.
Obv. Legend in Arabic: "In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, god is unique. The one who believes and has been baptized shall be saved" around central "The emir of the church of the messiah is the Roman Pope" between + / ALF.
Rev. Legend in Arabic: "This Dinar has been struck at Medina Toleitola in the year 1225 of Safar" around central "The Emir of the Catholics is Alfons ibn (son of) Sanchi, he is helped and guarded by god".
V. 2038; Cayón 1041.

Rare. Extremely fine.

A fascinating issue from the time of the Reconquista, issued with Arabic legends for the Christian king Alfonso VIII of Castilia. It is interesting to see how the mint officials used Arabic titles such as "Emir" and islamic phrases like "God is unique" or "Alfons ibn Sanchi". The coin is dated to 1212 AD, the year in which Alfonso, with the help of Pope Innocent XIII (1198-1216), Portugal, Leon, Navarra and Aragon, assembled a crusader army in Toledo to launch an attack on the Almohads. The united Christian Army defeated its Muslim opponents in the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa on Juli 16. With probably around 15'000 Christian and 30'000 Muslim fighters, it was one of the largest battles in the European Middle Ages.