2017-03-21 Tue

The Persians used barter initially until they took over the Lydian Kingdom in the mid-sixth century BCE. Post that, they adopted the system of coinage. The Persians often fought against Greek city states. Greek mercenaries demanded payment in coins, resulting in a consistent coinage.

The Great King Darius I changed the Lydian gold stater into a new denomination, the daric. These ancient coins are sometimes called as toxotai, archers, after their iconic design. The daric was used frequently for international trade in those days.

The Persian king was depicted in “running kneeling” position which confirms how motion was represented on coinage in ancient times. The design remained almost the same for 185 years.

The Persians were particular about the purity of metals than its artistic aspects. Most of the darics were made in crude style but some of them are more beautiful.

Persians were conquered by Alexander the Great in 329 BCE but the daric was struck under Alexander and his successors until around 300 BCE, after which Alexander’s stater was introduced.