Abu Ya’qub, also known as Yusuf I, was the second Amir or Caliph of Almohad dynasty. He reigned from 1163 to 1184 in Marrakesh. In 1170 he invaded Iberia, conquering Al-Andalus and ravaging Valencia and Catalonia.

He ordered the construction of numerous buildings, such as Koutoubia in Marrakesh, Hassan Tower in Rabat, the Alcazar, the Buhaira palace and the fortress of Alcala de Guadaira. During the reign, he issued gold coins in the denomination of Dinar. These coins were struck at Madinat Tilimsan and Ribat al Fath mints.

Depicted here is a gold Dinar issued during his reign. The obverse of a coin has legend ‘Bismillah irrahman-i-rrahim La Ilaha Illahu Muhammad-u-Rasulullah Al Mahdi Al Imam’ within field ‘Amir-ul-Monin Abu Yaqub Bin Ibn Khulfah Al Rashidin’ inscribed within the margin. The reverse of a coin depicted with ‘Al Qaim Bi Amr Allah Al Khalifah Abu Muhammad Abdul Mominin Bin Ali Amir-ul-Mominin’ in centre and ‘Amir-ul-Mominin Abu Yaqub Yusuf Bin Amir-ul-Mominin’ within the margin.

Image Source: Heritage Auctions