Gold Daric of the Achaemenid Empire (about 2,500 years ago)
This gold daric was issued by the Achaemenid Persian Empire during the 5th century BCE, representing one of the world's first standardized gold currencies. Named after King Darius I (522-486 BCE) who reformed the empire's monetary system, the daric was the premier gold coin of the ancient Near East for over two centuries. This coin embodied the wealth and power of an empire that stretched from the Indus Valley to Egypt and the Aegean Sea.
Coin Description:
Front side: The obverse shows the "hero-king" or "royal archer" figure in a half-kneeling/running position, wearing a crown and holding a bow and spear. This iconic image represents the Persian Great King as a warrior.
Back side: The reverse typically features an irregular punch mark rather than an image or inscription, a characteristic of early Persian coinage.
Technical Details:
Gold composition (AV, from Latin "aurum")
Daric denomination (primary gold unit of the Persian Empire)
Weight: Approximately 8.4 grams
Size: Approximately 15-16mm in diameter
Grade: Ch XF (Choice Extremely Fine) - indicating excellent preservation with minor wear
Strike Quality: 3/5 (average strike with moderate detail)
Surface Quality: 4/5 (excellent surface preservation with minimal issues)
Date of minting: Circa 5th century BCE (height of the Achaemenid Empire)
Historical Significance: The daric was minted during the height of Persian imperial power, when the empire faced the Greek city-states in the famous Persian Wars. These coins funded Persian military campaigns and administrative costs across the largest empire the world had seen to that point. The "hero-king" image communicated Persian royal ideology to subjects across diverse cultures. Despite the average strike quality of this example, its excellent surface preservation and pure gold content made it highly desirable in ancient markets.
This gold daric was issued by the Achaemenid Persian Empire during the 5th century BCE, representing one of the world's first standardized gold currencies. Named after King Darius I (522-486 BCE) who reformed the empire's monetary system, the daric was the premier gold coin of the ancient Near East for over two centuries. This coin embodied the wealth and power of an empire that stretched from the Indus Valley to Egypt and the Aegean Sea.
Coin Description:
Front side: The obverse shows the "hero-king" or "royal archer" figure in a half-kneeling/running position, wearing a crown and holding a bow and spear. This iconic image represents the Persian Great King as a warrior.
Back side: The reverse typically features an irregular punch mark rather than an image or inscription, a characteristic of early Persian coinage.
Technical Details:
Gold composition (AV, from Latin "aurum")
Daric denomination (primary gold unit of the Persian Empire)
Weight: Approximately 8.4 grams
Size: Approximately 15-16mm in diameter
Grade: Ch XF (Choice Extremely Fine) - indicating excellent preservation with minor wear
Strike Quality: 3/5 (average strike with moderate detail)
Surface Quality: 4/5 (excellent surface preservation with minimal issues)
Date of minting: Circa 5th century BCE (height of the Achaemenid Empire)
Historical Significance: The daric was minted during the height of Persian imperial power, when the empire faced the Greek city-states in the famous Persian Wars. These coins funded Persian military campaigns and administrative costs across the largest empire the world had seen to that point. The "hero-king" image communicated Persian royal ideology to subjects across diverse cultures. Despite the average strike quality of this example, its excellent surface preservation and pure gold content made it highly desirable in ancient markets.
This gold daric was issued by the Achaemenid Persian Empire during the 5th century BCE, representing one of the world's first standardized gold currencies. Named after King Darius I (522-486 BCE) who reformed the empire's monetary system, the daric was the premier gold coin of the ancient Near East for over two centuries. This coin embodied the wealth and power of an empire that stretched from the Indus Valley to Egypt and the Aegean Sea.
Coin Description:
Front side: The obverse shows the "hero-king" or "royal archer" figure in a half-kneeling/running position, wearing a crown and holding a bow and spear. This iconic image represents the Persian Great King as a warrior.
Back side: The reverse typically features an irregular punch mark rather than an image or inscription, a characteristic of early Persian coinage.
Technical Details:
Gold composition (AV, from Latin "aurum")
Daric denomination (primary gold unit of the Persian Empire)
Weight: Approximately 8.4 grams
Size: Approximately 15-16mm in diameter
Grade: Ch XF (Choice Extremely Fine) - indicating excellent preservation with minor wear
Strike Quality: 3/5 (average strike with moderate detail)
Surface Quality: 4/5 (excellent surface preservation with minimal issues)
Date of minting: Circa 5th century BCE (height of the Achaemenid Empire)
Historical Significance: The daric was minted during the height of Persian imperial power, when the empire faced the Greek city-states in the famous Persian Wars. These coins funded Persian military campaigns and administrative costs across the largest empire the world had seen to that point. The "hero-king" image communicated Persian royal ideology to subjects across diverse cultures. Despite the average strike quality of this example, its excellent surface preservation and pure gold content made it highly desirable in ancient markets.
