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Derivative Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified |  |  | 9 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2012 Call Option on Long-Term Debt [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Call Option on Long-Term Debt [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Credit Derivatives [Member] Contract | Dec. 31, 2012 Credit Derivatives [Member] Contract
Schedule Of Loans And Allowance For Loan By Class Individually And Collectively Evaluated For Impairment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Value of right to reclaim cash collateral and posted margin, recorded in "Other assets" | $ 5,599 | $ 5,472 |  |  |  |
Value of obligation to return cash collateral, recorded in "Other liabilities" | 0 | 0 |  |  |  |
Number of outstanding credit derivative transactions include ratings based collateral-posting triggers |  |  |  |  | None of our outstanding credit derivative transactions | None of our outstanding credit derivative transactions
Number of credit derivative contracts |  |  |  |  | 4 | 4
Net liability fair value of credit derivative contracts |  |  |  |  | 67,164 | 67,219
Notional value of credit derivative contracts |  |  |  |  | 281,547 | 291,690
Gains in change in fair value of the call options |  |  | 100,710 |  |  |
Amount of surplus notes that may be repurchased under stand-alone derivatives |  |  |  | 500,000 |  |
Net liability fair value of all derivative instruments linked to Ambac's own credit risk | 69,513 | 180,113 |  |  |  |
Fair value of posted assets as collateral | $ 140,273 | $ 271,251 |  |  |  |

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- Definition Amount of surplus notes that may be repurchased under stand-alone derivatives. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Derivative Liability Fair Value For Credit Derivative Contracts On Adversely Classified Credit Listing + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Notional principal outstanding of Credit Derivative Contracts on adversely classified credit listing. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of Credit Derivative Contracts on adversely classified credit listing. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition The aggregate fair value of assets that are already posted, at the end of the reporting period, as collateral for derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624258-113959 + Details
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- Definition Amount of obligation to return cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against derivative assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28370219&loc=SL20226016-175313 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (d)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20225523&loc=SL20225862-175312 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=d3e41678-113959 + Details
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- Definition Amount of right to receive cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against derivative liabilities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28370219&loc=SL20226016-175313 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (d)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20225523&loc=SL20225862-175312 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=d3e41678-113959 + Details
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- Definition Description of the circumstances in which credit-risk-related contingent features could be triggered in derivative instruments that are in a net liability position at the end of the reporting period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624258-113959 + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in the fair value of derivatives recognized in the income statement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5618551-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (a),(c),(d),(e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
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- Definition The aggregate fair value amounts of derivative instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position at the end of the reporting period. For nonderivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the fair value amounts are the carrying value of the nonderivative hedging instrument, including the adjustment for the foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on that instrument. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624258-113959 + Details
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