FATIMID, AL-MAHDI (297-322h) Dinar, al-Qayrawan 297h Weight: 4.15g Reference: Nicol 23 Very fine and very rare, the first year of al-Mahdi’s reign Qayrawan was captured for the Fatimids in 296h by Abu ‘Abdallah al-Shi’i, a staunch supporter of the Fatimid cause who had long fought and intrigued against the Aghlabids in North Africa. Al-Mahdi was recognized as Fatimid caliph in 297h, but soon came to view the man who paved his way to power as a threat and had al-Shi’i was murdered in 298h.

Estimate: GBP 3000 - 4000