This attractive and unique Crown was issued by the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq in 2003 as a gesture toward complete Kurdish self-governance and the fullfillment of Kurdish self-determination. It is one of the first 4 denominations minted then by Kurdistan with a very limited issue of 5,000 of these one Dinar Crowns. Depicted on this Crown is the greatest medieval sultan and most famous Kurd in history, the Ayyubid sultan Saladin (1169-1193). It was Saladin who assumed the mantle of leader of the muslim resistance to Richard the Lionhearted's shocking crusade and seizure of Jerusalem. Though Saladin was the most reluctant inheritor of this role he proved incredibly able and galvanized a previously fractious Middle-east into a relentless union against the Christian Invaders. He gained control of Egypt, retook Jerusalem, conquered Palestine, and extended his sway over Syria and throughout the region, thus founding a 900 year epoch of muslim control over the disputed Holy Land. This coin would make a unique addition to any World Coin collection and a wonderful gift to anyone interested in Iraq's and the Kurd's unfolding history.