One of ancient history's most important coins. The Persian Daric

Ancient Persia. Achaemenid Empire. Darius I to Xerxes II. 485-420 BC. Gold Daric. R.

Obv: Persian King or Great warrior holding a bow and spear/staff.

Rev: Incuse punch.

One of the most important coins in ancient history. When Cyrus the Great conquered the Lydians, they adopted their monetary system of gold and silver coins as official currencies of exchange. It was during the reign of Darius I the Great that he started issuing both gold Darics and silver Sigloi bearing the official image of the running warrior or great king. The term Daric was originally thought of being named in honor of Darius himself but was eventually believed to be derived from the ancient Persian term Darin for gold. They became history's earliest universal trade currency as they were traded heavily with the Greek states and hardly within the Achaemenid Empire. The minting of gold Darics was also strictly a royal privilege punishable by death unlike the more common silver sigloi where satraps and officials were allowed to mint under permission of the king.

From a Biblical perspective, the Darics were mentioned in the Old Testament twice as Dram or Ardakonim. References:
1 Chronicles 29:7Ezra 2:69, andNehemiah 7:70-72; the second in Ezra 8:27.

When Alexander the Great conquered the Achaemenid empire during the 4th century BC, he had all the gold Darics he could find melted and minted into the Athenian Staters in his image. This contributed to their rarity.

 

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Way cool! Don't think I've seen one before.

 

They occasionally pop up only in major auction houses. In addition, they are of high gold purity at 95% and above thus making many in worn or unclear condition notwithstanding off strike

 

How big is it and what does it weigh?

 

Weighs 8.35g. Size wise about 17x12mm

 

Wonderful coin, fantastic place marker in history! I had not seen one.

 

Thanks.. there are around 3-4 variants of the obverse which marks the reign. The earliest are the drawn bow, followed by these running with spear. There's also one with a dagger. Later Darics have a more refined picture of the great warrior.

 

Wow, Loong-Bro => that's a very cool coin and an even cooler write-up (interesting)

Ummm, all I have to contribute is its silver buddy, AR Siglos ...



... I've always liked the banker's mark

 

HI @stevex6. . I'm also on the lookout for a nice Siglos too... haha..I like the banker's mark too on your piece

 

I have an AR Siglos from the same time... Looks like @steve, your OP, and mine are of a very similar design...


PERSIAN - ACHAMENID EMPIRE.
Time of Darius I to Xerxes II
Ca. 485-420 BC.
AR Siglos
5.87 gm; 16 mm
Obv: Persian king kneeling - running right, holding spear and bow, quiver on shoulder
Rev: Incuse punch
Ref: BMC 69; Sunrise # 29 var.
Comment: Two countermarks on the obverse and one on the edge.

 

Terrific posts!!

I think that's the first gold example posted on CT---or at least the first I noticed. Just wonderful!! I love the historical context!!

 

I too have the silver counterpart, but that is a wonderful gold example.

ACHAEMENID EMPIRE
AR Siglos
OBVERSE: Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding spear and bow
REVERSE: Incuse punch
Struck at Persia, 485-420 BC
5.5g, 16mm
Carradice Type IIIb, Group A/B (pl. XII, 18)

 

Very nice piece!! Yes.. the die does look similar. The details are also sharp on yours with a nice banker's mark as well.. it is extremely likely issued around the same period

 

Thank you. There were gold coin postings in the past I believe by others. This is the oldest gold coin I have in my collection (excl Electrum pieces)..

 

Thank you.. it does look similar to the same period as OP as well

 

LS - great coin and write-up. The coin is well centered and most of the features are on the coin, a rarity for one of these.
Steve, It looks like the cross-hairs are right behind the King and he is running for hiss life.

 

Thank you. Unfortunately unable to capture the lustre.

 

Awesome coin, I don't even own a silver like others here do.

 

Thanks.. silver sigloi Are relatively easier to get. It's a nice piece to keep 1

 

Try photographing it on a neutral color background. That red is fooling the camera and making the gold look green which I doubt is correct.