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Coinage
of the Achaemenid Kingdom
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Achaemenid Kingdom, Time of Cyrus to Darios I, AR Siglos (1/2 Stater), c.545-520 BC,
Sardes Mint
(No legend)
Foreparts of confronted lion and bull
(No legend)
Two incuse square punches of unequal size
11mm x 16mm, 5.11g
SNG Kayhan 1024; Traité I 409-10 (Kroisos); SNG Copenhagen 456
Note: Siglos = 1/20 Light AV Stater
Notes from Phil Jones on June
10, 2009: "The Achamaenids took the over the Lydian Kingdom and
continue the coinage of Kroisos for approximately 30 years after the death
of the Lydian King (see Kraay, ACGC p. 31 for a discussion), which is
traditionally dated at 547 B.C. (Meaning that this example should be dated
between c. 550 - 520 B.C.)
Stylistically, nearly the same dies are used, however there are small
variations, particularly around the bull. As well, the post Croesan
coinage tends to not strike the legs well, though I cannot tell you
why this is the case honestly... Kraay notes that "these
post-Croesan issues are characterized by a progressive stylization of
their types, and by the almost total omission of fractional denominations
smaller than the gold stater and the silver half stater, which remained
the only normal denomination in the succeeding Persian coinage." He
continues to suggest later on that "...this concentration upon two
major denominations would seem to imply some restriction in the range of
transactions for which coinage was being employed in the less properous
climate of the secon half of the century." Perhaps there is less
dedication or less focus that comes to the mint in Sardis at this time as
well, as the Persians really don't have much of a history with the concept
of stater directly (though arguments can be made that they do bring with
them the concept of state issued precious metals (Kraros) from the
Babylonian tradition (For further information, see Morris Silver's
wonderful discussion of pre-coinage and early economies posted
on line: http://members.tripod.com/~sondmor/index-7.html ) )."
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Achaemenid Kingdom, Time of Darius I to Xerxes II, AV Daric, c.485-420 BC
(No legend)
Great King of Persia in kneeling-running pose right, wearing turreted
crown, quiver over shoulder, bow upward in left hand, transverse spear in
left, all on base line
(No legend)
Incuse punch
14mm x 17mm, 8.33g
Carradice IIIb A/B pl. XIII, 27; BMC Arabia pl. XXIV, 26; Sunrise 27
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Achaemenid Kingdom, Time of Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II, AR Siglos, c.420-375 BC
(No legend)
Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, transverse spear in right hand,
bow in left, quiver with arrows over shoulder
(No legend)
Incuse punch
14mm x 16mm, 5.44g
Carradice IIIb/C, pl. XIV, 42
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Achaemenid Kingdom, Time of Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II, AR Siglos, c.420-375 BC
(No legend)
Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, transverse spear in right hand,
bow in left, quiver with arrows over shoulder, punch in center
(No legend)
Incuse punch
13mm x 15mm, 5.52g
Carradice IIIb/C
Ex David Cannon Collection
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Achaemenid Kingdom, Time of Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II, AR Siglos, c.420-375 BC
(No legend)
Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, dagger in right hand and bow in left, quiver with arrows over shoulder
(No legend)
Incuse punch
14mm x 17mm, 5.43g
Carradice IV/B, pl. XIV, 43-45
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Achaemenid Kingdom, Time of Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II, AR Siglos, c.420-375 BC
(No legend)
Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, arrow in right hand, bow in left, quiver with arrows over shoulder,
die cud (?) in left field
(No legend)
Incuse punch
13mm x 17mm, 5.40g
Carradice IV/B, pl. XIV, 43
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Achaemenid Kingdom, Time of Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II, AR Siglos, c.420-375 BC
(No legend)
Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, arrow in right hand, bow in
left, quiver with arrows over shoulder
(No legend)
Incuse punch, two countermarks
14mm x 16mm, 5.40g
Carradice IV/B
Ex David Cannon Collection
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Achaemenid Kingdom, Time of Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II, AR Siglos, c.420-375 BC
(No legend)
Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, dagger in right hand, bow in
left, quiver with arrows over shoulder
(No legend)
Incuse punch, one countermark
12mm x 15mm, 5.34g
Carradice IV/B
Ex David Cannon Collection
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Achaemenid Kingdom, Time of Darios I to Xerxes I, AR Quarter Siglos, c.505-480 BC,
Sardes
(No legend)
Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, drawing bow
(No legend)
Incuse punch
10mm x 11mm, 1.70g
Carradice Type II; Klein 756
Ex David Cannon Collection
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Achaemenid Kingdom, Time of Artaxerxes II to Artaxerxes III, AR Siglos, c.375-340
BC
(No legend)
Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, dagger in right hand and bow in
left
(No legend)
Incuse punch
13mm x 16mm, 5.41g
Carradice IV/C, pl. XIV, 46
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