(sold for $130.0)

996, Egypt, Fatimids in North Africa, al-Hakim.  Gold 1/4 Dinar Coin. 0.99gm!

Mint Place: Uncertain Culture: Fatimid Empire Region: North Africa (Egypt) Denomination: Gold 1/4 Dinar Mint Period: 996-1021 AD (AH 386-411) Condition: Ragged (damaged) flan, otherwise about XF! Ruler:   Al-Hakim (996-1021AD/386-411h)? Diameter: 16mm Weight: 0.99gm  Material: Gold!

The Fatimid Caliphate or al-Fatimiyyun was an Arab Shi'a dynasty that ruled over varying areas of the Maghreb, Egypt, Sicily, Malta and the Levant from 5 January 909 to 1171. The caliphate was ruled by the Fatimids, who established the Egyptian city of Cairo as their capital. The term Fatimite is sometimes used to refer to the citizens of this caliphate. The ruling elite of the state belonged to the Ismaili branch of Shi'ism. The leaders of the dynasty were also Shia Ismaili Imams, hence, they had a religious significance to Ismaili Muslims. They are also part of the chain of holders of the office of Caliph, as recognized by most Muslims. Therefore, this constitutes a rare period in history in which some form of the Shia Imamate and the Caliphate were united to any degree, excepting the Caliphate of Ali himself. It should be noted here, however, that these Ismaili Imams are not considered rightful Imams (nor seen to possess any other spiritual or religious significance) by the overwhelming majority of Shias (the Twelvers). Thus, most Shias would not consider the Fatimid period of rule as a unification of Caliphate and Imamate. With exceptions, the Fatimids were reputed to exercise a degree of religious tolerance towards non-Ismaili sects of Islam as well as towards Jews, Maltese Christians and Coptic Christians.

Abū ʿAlī Manṣūr (13 August 985 – 13 February 1021), better known by his regnal title al-Ḥākim bi-Amr Allāh (Arabic: الحاكم بأمر الله‎; literally "Ruler by God's Command"), was the sixth Fatimid caliph and 16th Ismaili imam (996–1021). Al-Hakim is an important figure in a number of Shia Ismaili religions, such as the world's 15 million Nizaris, in addition to the 2 million Druze of the Levant whose eponymous founder ad-Daraziproclaimed him as the incarnation of God in 1018.

Histories of al-Hakim can prove controversial, as diverse views of his life and legacy exist. Historian Paul Walker writes: “Ultimately, both views of him, the mad and despotic tyrant (like Germanic and Roman despots) irrationally given to killing those around him on a whim, and the ideal supreme ruler, divinely ordained and chosen, whose every action was just and righteous, were to persist, the one among his enemies and those who rebelled against him, and the other in the hearts of true believers, who, while perhaps perplexed by events, nonetheless remained avidly loyal to him to the end."