Ancient Archaic Period - 485-420 BCE Achaemenid Persian Empire AV Daric, UNIQUE symbol in exergue, NGC AU
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6154657009
485-420 BCE, Achaemenid Persian Empire, AV Daric, with a unique symbol in the exergue, graded NGC AU. Struck during the rule of Darius I-Xerxes II, Sardis mint. The Achaemenid Empire is also known as the First Persian Empire, which was founded by Cyrus the Great. The Persian Daric was the first gold coin. The Daric, along with the silver siglos, represented the first bimetallic monetary standard. It was around 510-500 BCE that the current image first appeared upon Persian gold coinage. At that time the Persian king replaced the lion and bull design.
The obverse presents a Persian king or hero, wearing cidaris and candys, quiver over shoulder, in kneeling-running stance right, drapery in angular form from left knee to ground, right knee obscured by drapery, transverse spear in right hand, bow forward in left. A unique symbol appears in the exergue. The reverse carries an incuse punch. It was Darius I who introduced this design for gold coins, which came to be known as 'Darics,' from Old Persian Daruiyaka ("golden"). Such coins were minted in Sardis, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey, Maisa Province). Darics and other coins minted in Sardis only circulated in the Western regions of the Achaemenid Empire, for there was no mint in the East. According to ancient sources, the Lydians were the inventors of gold coinage. Gold mining was in the area of Mount Tmolus, and it was transported to Sardis via the Pactolus and Hermus rivers.
| Grading Service | NONE |
|---|---|
| Year of Issue | NONE |
| Grade | NONE |
| Ancient Year Range | 5th C. BC |
| Denom Type | N/A |
| Numeric Denomination | AV Daric |
| Mint Location | NONE |
| Designation | NONE |
| Circ/UnCirc | Not Specified |
| Strike Type | N/A |
| Holder Variety | Strike 4/5; Surface 4/5 |
| Grade Add On | NONE |
| Holder Type | N/A |
