This is a coin from the Artuqid dynasty issued circa A.D. 1176. This coin is unusual because it has an image on it, but was issued by an Islamic people, who normally do not have images on their coins. Besides the Artuqids, there was another dynasty called the Zengids that did this also. These two are collectively called Turkoman.
What makes this coin especially interesting is that it has an "eyes to the heavens" bust, which was borrowed from Constantine's coinage...which was borrowed from Alexander the Great coinage. The imagery of the uplifted eyes was so powerful, that over eight centuries later, it inspired the Artuqid Dynasty to copy it.
There are two books on this series by William Spengler and Wayne Sayles
Turkoman Figural Bronze Coins and Their Iconography: Vol I, the Artuqids
Turkoman Figural Bronze Coins and Their Iconography : Vol II, the Zengids
Artuqids of Mardin. Qutb al-Din Il-Ghazi II. 572-580 AH/ A.D. 1176-1184. AE dirhem 29mm
