This dirham was issued under Emir Husam al-Din Yuluq Arslan (1184-1201), the 5th Artuqid ruler in Maridin. Like many other Artuqid coins the piece shows a pictorial illustration on the obverse, here a facing bust. The reverse bears a Cufic inscription within a five-pointed star. This dirham is one of the illustrated bronze coins that were struck in great quantities and with many different designs in Mesopotamia. Some of these types were in use for only one or two years, while others were issued several times under diverse emirs.