Crusader States - Jerusalem, John of Brienne (1210–1225), Silver Dirham, Acre Mint

John de Brienne ruled the Kingdom of Jerusalem first as king (1210–1212) and afterwards as regent (1212–1225), and it was under his authority that Acre struck fine silver dirhams of roughly 2.70 grams — deliberately matched in weight to the Arabic dirhams then circulating throughout the Levant. Bearing a cross and the church of the Holy Sepulchre with the Latin legends +IOHANNES REX and +DE IERVSALEM, these large, good-silver pieces marked a genuine landmark in the coinage of the Crusader kingdom, departing from the humble billon deniers that preceded them. Worth roughly four times as much as his billon issues, they are very rare today. This example shows a fine strike despite surface patination from its burial environment.

Very rare. 2.46 g. aVF. Details (Environmental Damage).