Dirham Crusader imitation in the name of al-Salih Isma'il, 3rd type, Acre

These imitation dirhams were struck by the Frankish lords of Acre to facilitate trade with Muslim merchants who refused Crusader coinage. The 3rd type, attributed to around 1244, coincides with a period of acute political realignment — al-Salih Isma'il, the Ayyubid ruler of Damascus, had that year made the extraordinary decision to ally with the Crusaders against his nephew al-Salih Ayyub of Egypt, even ceding territories including Jerusalem and Sidon to the Franks.

Invoking his name on the coinage was not incidental. It was a commercial and diplomatic signal. Metcalf's classification separates three distinct types by calligraphic arrangement and border treatment.