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Image search results - "Darius"

Persian Empire, Lydia, Anatolia, Xerxes I - Darius II, c. 485 - 420 B.C. Silver siglos, Carradice Type IIIa variety without pellets, Carradice NC 1998, pl. 8, 5 - 16; or underweight Carradice IIIb, Choice gVF, attractive surfaces, flow lines, bankers mark on edge, Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, weight 5.403g, maximum diameter 14.8mm, c. 485 - 420 B.C.; obverse kneeling-running figure of the Great King right, transverse spear downward in right hand, bow in extended left hand, bearded, crowned; reverse irregular rectangular punch; from the CEB Collection; ex Numismatic Fine Arts winter sale (Dec 1987), lot 371
Ex: Forum Ancient Coins.
Persian Lydia, Persian Empire, Lydia, Anatolia, Xerxes I - Darius II, c. 485 - 420 B.C., Carradice Type III was initially issued with the same weight standard as earlier sigloi, Type IIIa, c. 5.30 - 5.39 g. Carradice NC 1998 lists 12 examples of sigloi in the Type IIIa style but without pellets behind the beard. There may have been two mints, one issuing with the two pellets and one without. Or possibly all light weight examples without pellets are simply underweight examples of the Type IIIb, issued after c. 485 B.C. on a heavier standard, c. 5.55 - 5.60 g.1 commentspaul1888

2.Darius I to Xerxes I - 505-480 BCAR 1/3 Siglos
Obv. Bearded king or hero, kneeling right with drawn bow and a quiver on his back.
Rev. Incuse Oblong punch.
Size:10mm;1.76gms
Ref.-Carridice II; BMC Arabia vol.28,pg.173,No.184
Sear 3429,SNG Turkey I 1027Brian L

3.Xerxes I - Darius II - 485-420 BCAR Siglos
Obv. Bearded king or hero, kneeling right holding spear in right and bow in left.
Rev. Incuse Oblong punch.
Two bankers marks on side,one pictured.
Size:11x14mm;5.54g
Ref.-Carradice type III C; BMC Arabia vol.28,pg.157,No.64-76
Sear 4682
Brian L

4.Darius II - Artaxerxes II - 420-375 BCAR Siglos
Obv. Beardless king or hero, kneeling right holding dagger in right and bow in left.
Rev. Incuse Oblong punch.
Size:15mm;5.49gms
Ref. Carradice type IV B (Middle); BMC Arabia vol.28,pg.167,No.144-152
Sear 4683
2 commentsBrian L

Achaemenid Empire siglosSilver siglos (Carradice type IIIb A/B, Near Very Fine, 16.7mm, 5.54 g), Xerxes I - Darius II, 480–420 BCE

The word siglos is Greek for "shekel" (sigle in Persian/Babylonian), that is, this coin is an Achaemenid Empire (Persian) shekel. Its weight is approximately half of the shekel that was used during the first Bet HaMikdash (~11.3 g).

Therefore, Haman concluded: “If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed, and I will weigh out ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries” (Esther 3:9). Reish Lakish said: It is revealed and known in advance to the One Who spoke and the world came into being, that in the future Haman was going to weigh out shekels against the Jewish people; therefore, He arranged that the Jewish people’s shekels that were given to the Temple preceded Haman’s shekels.
(Tractate Megillah, 13b)
Yoel S

Achaemenid Empire, Persia, AR Siglos, 450-330 BCEAR Siglos - 5.61g, 15.4 mm

Obverse: Bearded archer kneeling right holding a spear and bow
Reverse: Incuse punch

References: Sear/Seaby 4682, BMC 3 ff.

Added to collection: May 27, 2005Daniel F

Achaemenid Empire. Darius I-Xerxes II. 485-420 BC AR Siglos, Type IIIb.pngAchaemenid Empire. Xerxes I to Darios II AR Siglos

Sardes Mint Circa 485-420 BC

Obverse: Persian king or hero, wearing kidaris and kandys, quiver over shoulder, in kneeling-running stance right, holding spear and bow

Reverse: Incuse punch

Interesting, and clear countermarks

References: Carradice Type IIIb, Group A/B (pl. XII, 17); Meadows, Administration 322; BMC Arabia pl. XXV, 17; Sunrise 25

15 MM, 5.4 GR.

The Sam Mansourati Collection
1 commentsSam

Achaemenid Empire. Siglos of Lydia. Asia Minor. Persia, Achaemenid Empire. 450-420 BC. Artaxerxes I-Darius II. (5.35 gm, 9.9mm), AR Siglos, Sardis Running/kneeling beardless king right, wearing kidaris & kandys, holding bow & daggar, quiver at shoulder. To right, countermark: head of an eagle right. / Oblong incuse punch. gF. Bt. Centurian Coins 1999. ATEC 1983-1985; Babelon Traite pl.87 #18-19; Carradice 43-49, Type IVa, GRPC Lydia S28; Klein 763; SNG Kayhan #1031-1033, 1746-1748. cf Leu Numismatik Web Auction 15 #873 (similar c/m).Anaximander

Achaemenid Empire. Siglos of Lydia. Asia Minor. Persia, Achaemenid Empire. c. 485-420 BC. Xerxes I-Darius II. AR Siglos (5.51 gm, 9.8mm) of Sardes. Running/kneeling king right, wearing kidaris & kandys, holding transverse spear and bow, quiver at shoulder. / "Map" oblong incuse punch. VF. Bt Mediterranean Coins, 1999. SNG Berry II #1448; Carradice Type IIIb Group B; SNG Aarhus 910; Sear Greek II #4678.Anaximander

Achaemenid Kingdom: Artaxerxes II to Darius III, AR Siglos.West Asia Minor, Lydia 375-336 B.C. 5.47g - 14.8mm, Axis 9h.

Obv: Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, three annulets on breast of kandys, holding dagger and bow, quiver with arrows over shoulder. Back to back crescent ountermark on the left.

Rev: Irregular incuse punch mark.

Ref: Carradice type IV (late) C: Carradice plate XV, 46 ff; BMC Arabia p. 171, 172 ff, pl. XXVII, 18 - 19; BMC 42 Countermark.
Provenance: Chris Scarlioli Collection.

Christian Scarlioli

Achaemenid Kingdom: Darius I, AR Siglos.Lydia 520-505 B.C. 5.22g - 14mm, Axis 12h.

Obv: Half length figure of king, holding bow and two arrows.

Rev: Incuse punch.

Ref: Carradice. Type.I.
Rated: Rare.
Provenance: Chris Scarlioli Collection.Christian Scarlioli

Achaemenid Kings of Persia, Artaxerxes I - Darius III AR Siglos 17mm 5.63g 450-330 BC.
O: Great King kneeling r. with Bow and Dagger. Three bankers marks.
R: Oblong punch.
SG4683, Head CoLP 27. Darkly toned. Nice heavy weight. _3690Antonivs Protti

Achaemenid Kings of Persia, Artaxerxes I - Darius III AR Siglos 450-330 BC. 16mm 4.40g
O: Great King kneeling r. with bow and spear, pellet behind.
R: Oblong punch with raised pattern within.
SG4682v(no pellet obv.).
There has been supposition that the raised areas on the reverse are actually a map of the Satrapal territories in Asia Minor. _6450Antonivs Protti

Achaemenid Kings of Persia, Artaxerxes II - Darius III, Silver Siglos c. 375 - 340 B.C.Achaemenid Kings of Persia, Artaxerxes II - Darius III, Silver Siglos c. 375 - 340 B.C. Sardis. 5.48 grams. Persian king running right with dagger and bow / Incuse punch. Carradice Type IV, VF.mjabrial

Achaemenid Kings of Persia, Darius I AR Siglos 15mm 5.10g 510-486 BC. O: Great King kneeling r. with Bow and Spear.
R: Oblong punch.
SG - , Head CoLP 25. _3501 soldAntonivs Protti

Achaemenid Kings of Persia, Darius I Silver Siglos 521-486 B.C.Achaemenid Kings of Persia, Darius I Silver Siglos 521-486 B.C. Sardis. 5.11 grams. First archer series. Persian king in kneeling-running stance right, drawing bow / Incuse punch. Carradice Type II Plate XI, 12., VF.mjabrial

Achaemenid Siglos Carradice Type IUpgraded from my other Type I Siglos - (Achaemenid Empire Darius I 520-505BC Siglos 13mm 5.31g) Acquired NAC Auction 123 Lot 870, May 9 2021. This coin is ex CNG Auction 87 lot 676, May 18, 2011. This is the NAC pic. I posted the CNG pic as well since it is better.1 commentsChance Vandal

Alexander the GreatPortrait of Alexander the Great done in mosaic that is housed at the Museo Nazionale, Naples, Italy. Dated from the late 2nd century. B.C., copy of a painting dated to c. 300 B.C.

Traditionally this scene reresents the turning-point at Issus when Darius fled the battle; but Philoxenus, the artist from whose painting the mosaic was copied, may have incorporated elements from other battles. Alexander's personal moment of peril seems borrowed from the Granicus, and the confrontation also has echoes of Gaugamela.

This mosaic depicts a battle between Alexander the Great and the Persian king Darius, probably the Battle of the Issus River in November of 333 B.C. It is in opus vermiculatum, with over one and a half million tesserae, none larger than 4 mm., in four colors: white, yellow, red, and black. The minuteness of the tesserae enables incredibly fine detail and painterly effects, including remarkable portraits of Alexander and Darius.

See:http://www.hackneys.com/alex_web/pages/alxphoto.htm
Cleisthenes

Alexander the Great, The Battle of Issus RiverThis mosaic depicts a battle between Alexander the Great and the Persian king Darius, probably the Battle of the Issus River in November of 333 B.C. It is in opus vermiculatum, with over one and a half million tesserae, none larger than 4 mm., in four colors: white, yellow, red, and black. The minuteness of the tesserae enables incredibly fine detail and painterly effects, including remarkable portraits of Alexander and Darius.

The border of this huge mosaic consists of large stones in a dentate pattern . In the corners are rosettes. Within the border along the bottom of the picture is a blank brown stripe, which some consider to be part of the picture, balancing the white expanse of sky at the top, while others argue that it is simply part of the frame.

The composition of the mosaic is dominated by the two protagonists: On the left, Alexander, with his head uncovered, rushes forward on his horse Bucephalus. He holds a spear with which he has skewered a Persian soldier, who has rushed to the defence of Darius. With Alexander appear his helmeted Macedonian soldiers, although little remains of them due to damage of the left side of the mosaic. On the right Darius, wearing a Persian cap, stretches out his hand to his wounded defender, while his charioteer whips the horses to flee toward the right. Around him are his Persian soldiers who mill in confusion in the background, their faces filled with fear and determination. One Persian, however, to the right of the dying defender of Darius, is intent upon Alexander, and holds his sword in his hand, ready to attack.

There are many details which emphasize the terror and confusion of the battle. The horse of the Persian defender of Darius collapses beneath him while he writhes in agony on Alexander's spear. Below Darius in his chariot, a Persian soldier, staring in horror at this scene, attempts to hold a rearing horse. The hindquarters of this horse project into the middle ground of the picture, giving it a sense of depth. To the right, a soldier is being crushed under the wheels of Darius' chariot. His face is reflected in the shield which he holds. Further to the right appear the terrified horses of the chariot team, trampling upon another unfortunate Persian.

The composition of the mosaic is dominated by diagonals. The center is dominated by the intersecting diagonals of the Persian speared by Alexander and the Persian restraining the rearing horse. Two other sets of intersecting diagonals are provided by the figures of Darius and his charioteer and by Alexander and the wounded Persian. The lances in the background of the picture also carry on the diagonal motif.

The setting of the battle is very stylized. In the background appears a tree with bare twisted limbs whose diagonals continue the unifying compositional motif of the mosaic. The tree also serves as a formal vertical counterweight to the Persian king and his charioteer, who rise above the battle fray. In the foreground are discarded weapons and rocks, which serve to define the space between the viewer and the battle scene.

The Alexander mosaic is thought to be based on a painting which Philoxenus of Eretria created for King Cassander of Macedonia. The painting is described by Pliny the Elder as representing "the battle of Alexander with Darius." Certain inconsistencies in the mosaic point to its derivation from another source. In the center of the composition appears a helmeted head to the right of the rearing horse. Two lance shafts come from the left and abruptly stop behind this he‡d. To the right of the same head appears a head of a horse and beneath this are the hindquarters of another horse, neither of which is logically completed. Among the four horses of Darius' chariot there are parts of a white horse which do not fit together anatomically. Above these horses is a Persian soldier who appears to have two right hands, one on his head and the other raised in the air. These details provide evidence that the mosaicist misunderstood details of the original.

Nevertheless, the overall effect of the mosaic is masterful. The expert blending of the colors of the tesserae and the careful control of the overall composition create a scene which comes to life with all the horror and confusion of battle. The Alexander mosaic is a truly great work, unmatched in the history of Roman art.

See: http://www.hackneys.com/alex_web/pages/alxphoto.htmCleisthenes

Amastris, PaphlagoniaAncient Greek City Issue
Amastris, Paphlaognia
(Under Reign of Mithridates VI 'the Great' of Pontus)

Obverse: Aegis with facing head of gorgon in middle

Reverse: Nike advancing right, palm across shoulders, AMAΣ-TPEΩΣ in fields

Bronze Unit (20mm, 7.1g)
Minted in Amastris 85-65BC

Reference: SNG Copenhagen 246

Translations and explanations:

Amastris was founded circa 300BC by a Persian princess of the same name, niece of King Darius III and is now Amasra in modern day Turkey.

Mithridates VI was a thorn in Rome's side for 40 years until finally being defeated by Pompey the Great.

An aegis is the shield or breastplate of Zeus or Athena.

Nike is the Greek god of victory.

AMAΣTPEΩΣ means 'of the Amastrians'.

Sphinx357

Artaxerxes II - Darius IIIPersian Empire, Lydia, Anatolia, Artaxerxes II - Darius III, c. 375 - 340 B.C., Silver siglos, 5.490 g, maximum diameter 15.1 mm, die axis 0, Carradice Type IV (late) C, 46 ff.; BMC Arabia 172 ff.; SNG Kayhan 1031; SGCV II 4683; Rosen 674; Klein 763; Carradice Price p. 77 and pl. 20, 387 ff.

Following Darius II came Artaxerxes II (called Mnemon), during whose reign Egypt revolted and relations with Greece deteriorated. His reign (dated as from 404 to 359 B.C.E.) was followed by that of his son Artaxerxes III (also called Ochus), who is credited with some 21 years of rule (358-338 B.C.E.) and is said to have been the most bloodthirsty of all the Persian rulers. His major feat was the reconquest of Egypt.
This was followed by a two-year rule for Arses and a five-year rule for Darius III (Codomannus), during whose reign Philip of Macedonia was murdered (336 B.C.E.) and was succeeded by his son Alexander. In 334 B.C.E. Alexander began his attack on the Persian Empire.

Siglos was the Greek transliteration of the Semitic denomination ""shekel"" which became a standard weight unit for silver in the Achaemenid Persian Empire after the conquest of Babylonia by Cyrus the Great in 539 B.C. Ironically, silver sigloi seem to have been struck primarily in the western part of the empire and the standard went on to influence several Greek civic and royal coinages in the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. There is endless debate about whether the figure on the obverse represents the Persian Great King or an anonymous royal hero, but since the Greeks regularly referred to the parallel gold denomination as the ""daric"" it seems clear that at least some contemporaries considered it a depiction of the king. Of course, whether this is what the Persian authorities intended or an example of interpretatio Graeca must remain an open question.4 commentsNemonater

Carradice Type I AR Siglos - Time of Darius IPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Darius I. Circa 520-505 BC.
AR Siglos (12mm, 5.31g).
Half-length bust of Persian king right, holding bow and arrows / Incuse punch.
Carradice Type I (pl. XI, 10); BMC Arabia pl. XXVII, 25.
Ex Hesperia 1964. Rare. Fine+

Provenance: Harlan J BerkCaffaro

Carradice Type I AR Siglos - Time of Darius IPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Darius I. Circa 520-505 BC.
AR Siglos (15mm, 5.34g).
Half-length bust of Persian king right, holding bow and arrows / Incuse punch.
Carradice Type I (pl. XI, 10); BMC Arabia pl. XXVII, 25.

Provenance: LanzCaffaro

Carradice Type II AR Siglos - Time of Darius I to Xerxes IPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Darius I to Xerxes I. Circa 505-480 BC.
AR Siglos (12mm, 5.29 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, drawing bow / Incuse punch.
Carradice Type II, pl. XI, 12-13. Near VF, toned.

Provenance: CNG Electronic auction 149, Lot: 114. Caffaro

Carradice Type II AR Siglos - Time of Darius I to Xerxes IPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Darius I to Xerxes I. Circa 505-480 BC.
AR Siglos (14mm, 5.28 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, shooting bow / Incuse punch. Carradice Type II (pl. XI, 12); BMC Arabia pl. XXVII, 23. VF, hoard patina.

Provenance: CNG electronic auction 152, Lot: 116. Caffaro

Carradice Type II AR Siglos - Time of Darius I to Xerxes IPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Darius I to Xerxes I. Circa 505-480 BC.
AR Siglos (13mm, 5.22 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, shooting bow / Incuse punch. Carradice Type II (pl. XI, 12); BMC Arabia pl. XXVII, 23. VF, toned.

Provenance: CNG electronic auction 153, Lot: 71.Caffaro

Carradice Type III AR 1/8th siglos - Artaxerxes II - Darius IIIPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Artaxerxes II to Darios III. Ca. 375-336 B.C.
AR 1/8th siglos (10 mm, 0.68 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, holding spear and bow / Incuse punch. L.
Mildenberg, "Über das Münzwesen im Reich der Achämeniden, AMI 26 (1993), 19 = Hess-Leu 45, 386
(same rev. die); cf. Carradice type IIIb (late); Winzer -; Klein -; Traité -; BMC -. VF, toned, porosity. An
extremely rare fraction - possibly the second known example. Caffaro

Carradice Type III AR Siglos - Artaxerxes I - Darius IIIPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Artaxerxes I - Darius III, c. 420-375 B.C.
AR Siglos (12mm, 5.60 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding spear in his right and bow in his left bow / Incuse punch.
Carradice Type IIIb; S 4682. Struck on a good metal. Very large die. Choice pleasing VF.

Provenance: Pars coinsCaffaro

Carradice Type III AR Siglos - Artaxerxes I - Darius IIIPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Artaxerxes I - Darius III, c. 450 - 330 B.C.
AR Siglos (15.2mm, 5.449 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding spear in his right and bow in his left bow / Incuse punch.
Carradice Type IIIb; S 4682. aVF.

Provenance: Forvm Ancient CoinsCaffaro

Carradice Type III AR Siglos - Artaxerxes I - Darius IIIPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Artaxerxes I - Darius III, c. 420-375 B.C.
AR Siglos (16mm, 5.56 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding spear in his right and bow in his left bow / Incuse punch.
Carradice Type IIIb; S 4682. Struck on a good metal. Very large die. Choice pleasing VF.

Provenance: Ephesus CoinsCaffaro

Carradice Type III AR Siglos - Artaxerxes I - Darius IIICarradice Type III AR Siglos - Artaxerxes I - Darius III
PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. Time of Artaxerxes I
- Darius III, c. 420-375 B.C.AR Siglos (12mm, 5.60 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right,
holding spear in his right and bow in his left bow
/ Incuse punch. Carradice Type IIIb; S 4682. Coin #69

cars100

Carradice Type III AR Siglos - Artaxerxes I - Darius IIICarradice Type III AR Siglos - Artaxerxes I - Darius III
PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. Time of Artaxerxes I
- Darius III, c. 420-375 B.C. AR Siglos (12mm, 5.60 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right,
holding spear in his right and bow in his left bow
/ Incuse punch. Carradice Type IIIb; S 4682. Struck
on a good metal. Choice pleasing Coin #70
cars100

Carradice Type III AR Siglos - Artaxerxes I - Darius IIIPERSIA, Achaemenid EmpireCarradice Type III AR Siglos - Artaxerxes I - Darius IIIPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Artaxerxes I - Darius III, c. 420-375 B.C.
AR Siglos (12mm, 5.60 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding spear in his right and bow in his left bow / Incuse punch.
Carradice Type IIIb; S 4682. Struck on a good metal. Very large die.cars100

Carradice Type IV AR 1/4 Siglos - Time of Darius IIIPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Darius III, c. 450 - 330 B.C.
AR 1/4 Siglos (0.7mm, 1.24 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding dagger in his right and bow in his left bow / Incuse punch.
Carradice Type IV; S 4683. F, toned.

Provenance: Harlan J BerkCaffaro

Carradice Type IV AR 1/4 Siglos - Time of Darius III Carradice Type IV AR 1/4 Siglos - Time of Darius III
PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. Time of Darius III,
c. 450 - 330 B.C. AR 1/4 Siglos (0.7mm, 1.24 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance
right, holding dagger in his right and bow in his
left bow / Incuse punch. Carradice Type IV; S 4683.
Coin #68
cars100

Carradice Type IV AR Siglos - Time Artaxerxes I - Darius IIIPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Artaxerxes I - Darius III, c. 450 - 330 B.C.
AR Siglos (16.7mm, 5.505 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding dagger in his right and bow in his left bow / Incuse punch.
Carradice Type IV; S 4683. gVF, toned.

Provenance: Forvm Ancient CoinsCaffaro

Carradice Type IV AR Siglos - Time Artaxerxes I - Darius IIIPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Artaxerxes I - Darius III, c. 450 - 330 B.C.
AR Siglos (15.5mm, 5.54 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding dagger in his right and bow in his left bow / Incuse punch.
Carradice Type IV; S 4683v. VF.

Provenance: Zuzim JudeaCaffaro

Carradice Type IV AR Siglos - Time Artaxerxes I - Darius IIIPERSIA, Achaemenid Carradice Type IV AR Siglos - Time Artaxerxes I - Darius IIIPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Artaxerxes I - Darius III, c. 450 - 330 B.C.
AR Siglos (16.7mm, 5.505 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding dagger in his right and bow in his left bow / Incuse punch.
Carradice Type IV; S 4683 cars100

Carradice Type IV AR Siglos - Time of Darius IIIPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Darius III, c. 420-375 B.C.
AR Siglos (13mm, 5.55 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding dagger in his right and bow in his left bow / Incuse punch.
Carradice Type IV; Struck on a good metal. Very large die. Choice pleasing VF.

Provenance: Pars CoinsCaffaro

Carradice Type IV AR Siglos - Time of Darius IIIPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Darius III, c. 375-340 BC.
AR Siglos (16mm, 5.50 g).
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding dagger in his right and bow in his left bow / Incuse punch.
Carradice Type IV; Taf. XV, 46. VF.

Provenance: Tom VossenCaffaro

Carradice Type IV AR Siglos - Time of Darius III Carradice Type IV AR Siglos - Time of Darius III
PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. Time of Darius III,
c. 450 - 330 B.C. AR Siglos.
Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right,
holding dagger in his right and bow in his left bow
/ Incuse punch. Carradice Type IV; S 4683. Coin #62
cars100

City of Constantinople Commemorative, 330 - 333 A.D.Bronze AE 3, RIC 63, VF, Constantinople, 2.524g, 18.5mm, 0o, 330 - 333 A.D.; Obverse: CONSTAN-TINOPOLI, Constantinopolis' helmeted bust left in imperial cloak and holding scepter across left shoulder; Reverse: Victory standing left, right foot on prow, scepter in right, resting left on grounded shield, CONSZ in exergue; nice style. Ex FORVM.

Constantinople Commemoratives minted by the actual city of Constantinople mint are much scarcer than those minted by other Eastern mints.

The village that was to become the site of Byzantium/Constantinople/Istambul was founded c. 658 B. C. by a Greek colony from Megara; the site was then occupied by the Thracian village of Lygos. The chief of the Megarian expedition was Byzas, after whom the city was naturally called Byzantion (Lat. Byzantium). Despite its perfect situation, the colony did not prosper at first; it suffered much during the Medic wars, chiefly from the satraps of Darius and Xerxes. Later on, its control was disputed by Lacedæmonians and Athenians; for two years (341-339 B. C.) it held out against Philip of Macedon. It succeeded in maintaining its independence even against victorious Rome, was granted the title and rights of an allied city, and its ambassadors were accorded at Rome the same honours as those given to allied kings; it enjoyed, moreover, all transit duties on the Bosporus. Cicero defended it in the Roman Senate, and put an end to the exactions of Piso.

The city continued prosperous to the reign of Septimius Severus, when it sided with his rival, Pescennius Niger. After a siege of three years (193-196) Severus razed to the ground its walls and public monuments, and made it subject to Perinthus or Heraclea in Thrace. But he soon forgave this resistance, restored its former privileges, built there the baths of Zeuxippus, and began the hippodrome. It was devastated again by the soldiers of Gallienus in 262, but was rebuilt almost at once. In the long war between Constantine and Licinius (314-323) it embraced the fortunes of the latter, but, after his defeat at Chrysopolis (Scutari), submitted to the victor.

Constantine had chosen this city as the new capital of the Roman Empire, but owing to his wars and the needs of the State, he rarely resided there.

(The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IV; Copyright © 1908 by Robert Appleton Company;Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight).

Edited by J. P. Fitzgerald, Jr.1 commentsCleisthenes

City of Constantinopolis Commemorative, 330-346 A.D. (Cyzikus)Constantinopolis City Commemorative, issued by CONSTANTINE THE GREAT AND HIS SONS, of the period AD 330-346, commemorating the transfer of the Seat of the Empire from Rome to Constantinople, AE3/4, aVF, Cyzikus. Obverse: CONSTAN-TINOPOLI, Constantinopolis wearing imperial mantle, holding inverted spear, laureate helmet, bust L.; Reverse: No legend; Victory stg. L., right foot on prow, holding scepter and leaning on shield; star?pellet?SMK pellet? in exergue.

The village that was to become the site of Byzantium/Constantinople/Istambul was founded c. 658 B. C. by a Greek colony from Megara; the site was then occupied by the Thracian village of Lygos. The chief of the Megarian expedition was Byzas, after whom the city was naturally called Byzantion (Lat. Byzantium). Despite its perfect situation, the colony did not prosper at first; it suffered much during the Medic wars, chiefly from the satraps of Darius and Xerxes. Later on, its control was disputed by Lacedæmonians and Athenians; for two years (341-339 B. C.) it held out against Philip of Macedon. It succeeded in maintaining its independence even against victorious Rome, was granted the title and rights of an allied city, and its ambassadors were accorded at Rome the same honours as those given to allied kings; it enjoyed, moreover, all transit duties on the Bosporus. Cicero defended it in the Roman Senate, and put an end to the exactions of Piso.

The city continued prosperous to the reign of Septimius Severus, when it sided with his rival, Pescennius Niger. After a siege of three years (193-196) Severus razed to the ground its walls and public monuments, and made it subject to Perinthus or Heraclea in Thrace. But he soon forgave this resistance, restored its former privileges, built there the baths of Zeuxippus, and began the hippodrome. It was devastated again by the soldiers of Gallienus in 262, but was rebuilt almost at once. In the long war between Constantine and Licinius (314-323) it embraced the fortunes of the latter, but, after his defeat at Chrysopolis (Scutari), submitted to the victor.

Constantine had chosen this city as the new capital of the Roman Empire, but owing to his wars and the needs of the State, he rarely resided there.

(The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IV; Copyright © 1908 by Robert Appleton Company;Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight).

Edited by J. P. Fitzgerald, Jr.Cleisthenes

Darios I SiglosDarios I. Circa 520-505 BC. AR Siglos (5.21 gm; 14 mm).
O: Half-length bust of Persian king or hero right, holding bow in left hand and arrows in right.
R: Incuse punch.
- Carradice Type I (pl. XI, 10); BMC Arabia pl. XXVII, 25; Sunrise 17Nemonater

Darius I-Xerxes II Siglos --485-420 BC5.54 g, 14 mm
Silver Siglos; Bright Surfaces
Minted sometime between reigns of Darius I and Xerxes II
Carradice Type IIIb A/B (plate XII 16-26); BMC Arabia plate XXV, 17

Obverse: Persian King or Hero in Kneeling-Running Stance Right, Holding Spear and Bow.
Reverse: Rectangular Incuse Punch.

Cyrus the Great conquered the Lydian kingdom of Kroisos in 546 BC. The Persian Empire first struck coins with Lydian types until 510, when the Daric and Siglos were introduced, each bearing the same obverse design that earned the coinage its nickname, “Archers”. The gold Daric (8.3 g) and the silver Siglos (5.3 g) continued the Lydian weight standard, circulating mostly in Asia Minor. Over nearly two centuries their archaic types hardly changed; as they bear no legends, attribution by reign can be difficult. After Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire in 330 BC, Persians used Greek coins - first Alexander's imperial coinage, and then the royal Seleukid coinage that succeeded it.
_______________________
Not exactly a Greek coin, but the Persian Wars are incredibly significant in Greek history and inspired me to add this Siglos to my collection.Hydro

Darius IIarash p

Darius II - Artaxerxes II, (420 - 375 B.C.)Persian Empire, Lydia, Anatolia
AR Siglos
O: Kneeling-running figure of the Great King right, bearded, crowned, dagger in right hand, bow in left hand, waist indicated, pellets on sleeves.
R: Oblong incuse.
Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint
14mm
5.2g
Carradice Type IV (middle) B, pl. XIV, 43; SNG Kayhan 1033; SGCV II 46832 commentsMat

Darius IIIarash p

Darius of Media Atropatene S36.17Darius, C70's BC. Drachm. 20mm, 3.65g.

Obverse: Bareheaded bust L with short beard and spiral torque.

Reverse: Archer seated R on throne holding bow. Blundered inscription.

Sellwood 36.17

Darius was probably a provincial governor, and the attribution has been questioned due to the wide distribution of his coinage, whhich was produced at numerous mints..Robert_Brenchley

Egypt, Memphis or Aswan (?), Satrap Sabakes, 335-333 BC, AR TetradrachmHead of Athena right with punch mark X on cheek.
Owl standing right, head facing, crescent and olive spray to left, crescent above a stylized thunderbolt (Sabakes symbol) and Aramaic legend SWYN (Aswan) to right, punch mark X on owl.

Nicolet-Pierre 6, D4/R-; SNG Copenhagen 3; Van Alfen Type I, O4/R-; Mitchiner 10a; Sear GCV 6232. Van Alfen (AJN 14 2002) countermark 3 on obv. & rev.

(24 mm, 16.91 g, 9h).
From LWHT Col.; HJB 166, 15 October 2009, 176.

Sabakes, to whom the issue of this coin type is attributed, was the penultimate Persian Satrap of Egypt. In 333 BC he led a contingent from Egypt to join the Persian army facing Alexander the Great at Issos, where he perished in battle. It is likely that this coin was struck under his governorship, perhaps for use as payment in preparations for the expeditionary force in support of Darius III. Counter marks are commonly present on these coins and most of the surviving examples are worn, indicating an extended period of circulation. This is consistent with the fact that the next coinage to be struck in Egypt was almost a decade later, shortly after the death of Alexander the Great.
2 commentsn.igma

Iran, Hamadan, the tomb of the biblical Esther and her cousin MordechaiThe tomb in the photo, located in Hamadan, is believed by some to hold the remains of the biblical Esther and her cousin Mordechai.

Hamedan, Iran, is believed to be among the oldest cities in the world. Hamadan was established by the Medes and was the capital of the Median empire. It then became one of several capital cities of the Achaemenid Dynasty. Hamadan is mentioned in the biblical book of Ezra as the place where a scroll was found giving the Jews permission from King Darius to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. (Ezra 6:2). Its ancient name of Ecbatana is used in the Ezra text. Because it was a mile above sea level, it was a good place to preserve leather documents. Joe Sermarini

Italy- Pompeii- Entrance to the house of FaunoHOUSE OF THE FAUN (VI,12,2)
With its 3000m² it is the largest house in Pompeii: built over a previous dwelling at the beginning of the 2nd century BC, its current form is the result of subsequent alterations. The entrance on the left leads directly into the public section, the door on the right to the private rooms: an atrium whose roof is supported by four columns, stalls, latrine, baths, kitchen. In the entrance is the Latin message HAVE. The ‘first style’ decoration, the floors of sectile opus, and the mosaic threshold (now at the Naples Museum) highlight the dignity of this house, more similar to the aristocratic Roman domus than local upper class dwellings. In the center of the impluvium is a bronze statue of the ‘faun’ (2nd cent. BC: original in Naples); around it are rooms that held mosaic paintings on the floor and ‘first style’ decorations on the walls. Between the two porticoed gardens is the exedra, the core of the dwelling, with Corinthian columns, stuccoed and painted capitals, a splendid mosaic (now at the N
aples Museum) depicting the victory of Alexander the Great over Darius, King of Persia, which has helped to suggest a connection between the Macedonian ruler and the unknown, educated, and wealthy owner of the
FLOOR PLAN OF THE HOUSE OF THE FAUN Pompeii 2nd Century Courtesy of Professor Barbette Spaeth, Tulane University (Excerpted from Professor Spaeth's accompanying text) This house was among the largest and most elegant of the houses of Pompeii. It took up an entire city block (c. 80 m. long by 35 m. wide or 315 by 115 ft.) and was filled with beautiful works of art, including the famous mosaic depicting Alexander the Great at the Battle of Issus, and wall paintings of the First, Second and Fourth Styles. The decoration of the house is heavily influenced by Hellenistic models. The House of the Faun was originally built in the early second century. In this period, the house was focused around two atria, one a large Tuscan atrium (3), and the other a smaller tetrastyle atrium (10), while the back of the house had a large kitchen garden. The two-atria plan represented an attempt to separate the formal functions of the atrium, i.e., the reception of clients and conduct of business by the patron of the house, from its private functions, i.e., the course of everyday family life. This type of plan is an intermediate step between the simple atrium house, with a single atrium complex, and the atrium and peristyle house. Apparently, the two-atria plan did not prove ultimately satisfactory for the owners of the House of the Faun. In the late second century B.C. they added a peristyle (8) to the north of the original two-atria nucleus, along with a service quarter to the eastern side (12-16), and reception rooms to the north. The rear of the house contained the kitchen garden. To this later period of the house belong its wall decorations in First Style and its famous mosaics. Finally, another peristyle was added around the time of the Early Roman Colony (20), that is, in the early first century B.C. This peristyle included more reception rooms along the south side (17 & 18), and smaller rooms, perhaps for servants, to the north (22) . The center of the new peristyle was occupied by the kitchen garden (19). With these renovations, the house acquired a new focus around the peristyles. The peristyles represented a private retreat for the family, a place where they could relax and entertain special guests. The front part of the house was kept for more formal occasions. The addition of service quarters reflects a further differentiation of function in the house, again separating the daily life of the family from the more public reception areas. The House of the Faun, with its elaborate decoration and extensive plan, represents one of the most important examples of Roman domus architecture of the second to first century B.C.
Peter Wissing

Kingdom of Lydia, Persian Rule: Artaxerxes I–Darius III (ca. 450-330 BCE) AR Siglos (Sear-4682)Obv: Bearded archer (the Great King) kneeling right, holding spear and bow
Rev: Oblong punch1 commentsQuant.Geek

Kings of Macedonia, Alexander III The Great, 336-323 BC, AR Tetradrachm - Sidon 333/2 BC Head of young Herakles right in lion-skin headdress, paws tied at neck.
ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡOΥ Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, Phoenician date (letter Alaph) indicating Year 1 (333/2 BC) beneath throne, Phoenician letter Sadhe (the ethnic of Sidon) to left.

Price 3467; Newell Sidon 8, dies -/- (previously unrecorded die set).
The first Alexander tetradrachm emission from Sidon mint 333/2 BC from the first dies used at the mint.
Nominally struck under Abdalonymos 333/2 -312/1 BC.

(23 mm, 17.2 g, 12h).
ex- Munzen Sann.

This is an example of the first Alexander coinage struck at Sidon, dated to Year 1 of his Asian reign, the year in which he defeated the Persian King Darius at the battle of Issos, followed shortly thereafter by the surrender of Sidon. The obverse die from which this coin was struck was transferred to Tyre after the fall of the city and it was used to strike the first of Alexander's coinage in the city. This die transfer/linkage was unknown to Newell and has only come to light in a recently offered specimen from Tyre CNG eAuction 276 lot 92 (incorrectly attributed to Tarsos by CNG). n.igma

Kings of Macedonia, Alexander III The Great, 336-323 BC, AR Tetradrachm – Sidon 333/2 BC Head of young Herakles right in lion skin headdress, paws tied at neck.
ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡOΥ Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, Aramaic letter Alaph indicating year 1 (333/2 BC) beneath throne, Phoenician letter Sadhe (the ethnic of Sidon) to left (off flan).

Price 3467 (same dies as 3467c); Newell Sidon 8, dies II/γ. The first Alexander tetradrachm emission from
Sidon mint 333/2 BC.
Nominally struck under Abdalonymos 333/2 -312/11 BC.

(24 mm, 16.39 g, 12h).

This coin is from the first emission of the mint at Sidon struck immediately after the city surrendered to Alexander the Great in December 333. This is a certainty, because it is the dated to Year 1 of Alexander’s conquest of the Persian dominion, the only coinage in his realm to be so dated. Year 1 of Alexander’s reign over the Old Persian Empire followed the defeat of the Persian King Darius at the Battle of Issos in November 333 BC. The Macedonian year commenced in October of our calendar year. Thus the Phoenician date (letter Alaph) of year 1 on this coin represents the period from Alexander’s appearance in the city in late 333 BC until October 332 BC.

Newell and Price catalogued eleven examples of this coin emission from two obverse and three reverse dies. To this can be added the previously unrecorded dies of the previous coin. The obverse die from which this coin was struck, together with the engraver of the die, were transferred to the city of Tyre immediately on conquest of the latter to commence the production of Alexander’s coinage in that city. The following coin is an example of next obverse die engraved at Tyre by the same engraver. The depiction of Herakles by this engraver is very distinctive, to the extent that his handiwork, as documented by Newell, can be used to track the further movement of the engraver from Tyre to the city of Tarsos in 329 BC.n.igma

Kings of Persia, Xerxes I - Darius II, SiglosKings of Persia
AR Siglos
Carradice type IIIb (early). Xerxes I - Darius II, c. 485 - 420 BC.
Obv.: Kneeling-running figure of the Great King right, transverse spear in right, bow in left, bearded, crowned.
Rev.: incuse punch
AR, 5.35g, 14x16mm
Ref.: Carradice type IIIb (early), cf. SNG Kayhan 1030, Rosen 673, SGCV II 4682
Ex Numismatik Naumann, Auction 80, Lot 871 (part of)shanxi

Lydia, Kings, Sardes, Cyrus to Darius I., (cc. 550/539-520 B.C.), Berk 22, AR-Siglos, Incuse punch, #1Lydia, Kings, Sardes, Cyrus to Darius I., (cc. 550/539-520 B.C.), Berk 22, AR-Siglos, Incuse punch, #1
avers: Confronted heads of a lion right and a bull left.
reverse: Incuse punch.
exergue: -/-//--, diameter: 12,0-16,0mm, weight: 5,20g, axis: 0h,
mint: Lydia, Kings, Sardes, date: time of Cyrus to Darius I., cc.550/539-520 B.C.,
ref: Berk 22, Traité I 409-11, SNG Kayhan I 1024-6,
Q-0012 commentsquadrans

Lydia, Persian Imperial Coinage- Artaxerxes I to Darius IIIAR Siglos
450-330 B.C.
5.50g
GCV-4682

Obverse:
Bearded archer (the Great King) kneeling right, holding spear and bow.

Reverse:
Oblong punch.

There are four bankers marks. There are two on the left, one at the bottom, the other on the right.Will J

Macedonian Kingdom, Alexander the Great, 336 - 323 B.C., Lifetime Issue. Tarsos Mint, Struck Between 333 - 327 B.C. Silver Tetradrachm, Price 2995, Müller 1293, Newell Tarsos 6, Demanhur 2045 - 2061, SNG Saroglos 505, SNG Cop 774, SNG München 692, SNG Alpha Bank -, VF, high relief, a little rough, porosity on reverse, 16.663g, 24.1mm, die ax., 45o, Tarsos mint, c. 333 - 327 B.C..
Obverse : head of Herakles right, clad in Nemean Lion scalp headdress tied at neck.
Reverse : Zeus Aëtophoros seated left on throne without back, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, right leg forward (archaic lifetime style), feet on footstool, eagle in extended right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand, AÎ›EÎžANâˆ†POY , ( " Of Alexander " in Ancient Greek ) , 4 pellets under seat above strut over A below strut.

Lifetime issue. Alexander the Great passed through Tarsos, Cilicia, with his armies in 333 B.C. Darius' confidence increased, because Alexander spent so much time there, which he imputed to cowardice. In truth, Alexander had fallen seriously ill after bathing in the exceedingly cold river Cydnus. No physician would treat him, they thought his case so desperate, and his recovery unlikely. They feared the punishment for failure. Finally, Philip, the Acarnanian, relying on his own well-known friendship for Alexander, resolved to try. At this very time, Alexander received a letter, warning him that Philip had been bribed by Darius to kill him, with great sums of money, and a promise of his daughter in marriage. After Alexander read the letter, he put it under his pillow, without showing it to anyone. When Philip came in with the potion, Alexander drank it with great cheerfulness and assurance, at the same time giving Philip the letter to read. Alexander's looks were cheerful and open, to show his kindness to and confidence in his physician, while Philip was full of surprise and alarm at the accusation, appealing to the gods to witness his innocence, sometimes lifting up his hands to heaven, and then throwing himself down by the bedside, and beseeching Alexander to lay aside all fear, and follow his directions without apprehension. The medicine worked so strongly at first that at first Alexander lost his speech, and falling into a swoon, had scarce any sense or pulse left. However, after a short time, his health and strength returned, and he showed himself in public to the Macedonians, who had been in continual fear until they saw him again.

FORVM Ancient Coins. / From The Sam Mansourati Collection. Sam

Mazaios, Satrap of Cilicia AR StaterCILICIA, Tarsos. Mazaios. Satrap of Cilicia, 361/0-334 BC., 10.78g. AR Stater
O: Baaltars seated left, head and torso facing, holding eagle, grain ear, and grape bunch in extended right hand, lotus-tipped scepter in left; TN (in Aramaic) to left, M (in Aramaic) below throne, B’LTRZ ("Baal of Tarsos" or "Baaltars" in Aramaic) to right
R: Lion attacking bull left; MZDY (Mazaeus in Aramaic) above, monogram below.
- Casabonne Series 2, Group C; SNG France –; SNG Levante 106. -Ex Walter M. Shandruk Collection

The obverse of this coin depicts the Baal of Tarsos.  "Baal" is a Semitic word for "Lord" or "God." The symbols of an eagle, wheat stalk, grapes, and a scepter may represent Baal’s capacity as a god involved in the seasonal cycles of life and death.

The reverse features a lion-and-bull motif as did earlier Anatolian coins of Kroisos/Croesus. But here, on the reverse, the full bodies of both lion and bull are shown, and the lion is ferociously jumping on the back of the bull, who's kneeling.

If you assume that a kneeling bull (without a lion) on the scores of later Greek and Roman coins is symbolic of Zeus, a position that Marvin Tameanko has persuasively argued for (Celator, Jan. 1995, pp. 6-11), and that the lion is symbolic of the supreme god, or Baal, of the Celicians, the symbolism of this coin, may be direct and simple: Our god is more powerful than your god.

The Baal obverse of Mazaios' coinage may have been used as the model for the Zeus reverse of Alexander the Great's huge output of silver coinage, though Martin Price believed that both coinages were based on similar models. Price did feel, however, that the celator who engraved the latter Mazaios staters also engraved Alexander III's Tarsos tetradrachms.

Mazaios (also referred to as "Mazaeus" and "Mazday") was the Persian satrap of Celicia beginning c. 361 BC, then the satrap of both Celicia and the larger territory of Transeuphratesia/Transeuphrates (Syria and Palestine, also known as Abar Nahara) beginning c. 345 BC.

Mazaios fought Alexander the Great at the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC. After this loss, he fled to Babylon. With the Great King Darius III of Persia also fleeing Alexander's army, Mazaios was the person who surrendered the capital of the Persian Empire, Babylon, to Alexander later in 331 BC, which prevented the sack of the city. For doing this without a fight, Alexander appointed him governor of Babylon, which at the time was the world's largest city. Mazaios died in 328 BC.
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=baal
10 commentsNemonater

MYSIE - LAMPSAQUE Trihemiobole4th-3rd centuries BC. AR Diobol ( 1,20 g. - 11 mm)
MYSIE - LAMPSAQUE
(Ve - IVe siècle avant J.-C.)
Lampsaque, placée à l'entrée de l'Hellespont, était une colonie phocéenne. Enjeu permanent de la rivalité qui opposait les Grecs et les Perses, Lampsaque entra dans la confédération délienne après la bataille de Mycale en 479 avant J.-C. Elle se détacha de la tutelle athénienne en 412 avant J.-C., mais fut reprise. Entre la chute d'Athènes en 404 avant J.-C. et la bataille de Cnide en 394 avant J.-C., puis la paix d'Antalcidas en 387 avant J.-C., la cité changea souvent de camp passant de l'influence grecque à celle du grand Roi et de ses satrapes. En 334, à l'arrivée d'Alexandre le Grand, la cité fut épargnée bien que favorable à Darius III Codoman avec Memnon, despote de la cité. La ville connut une grande prospérité à l'époque hellénistique.B*Numis

PARTHIA/PERSIA, Achaemenid, AR SiglosLydia, Anatolia, Artaxerxes II - Darius III, c. 375 - 340 B.C., Silver siglos, Carradice Type IV (late) C, 46 ff.; BMC Arabia 172 ff.; SNG Kayhan 1031; SGCV II 4683; Rosen 674; Klein 763; Carradice Price p. 77 and pl. 20, 387 ff.2 commentsNemonater

PARTHIA/PERSIA, Achaemenid, AR siglos, 404-330 B.C.Kingdom of the Achaemenid
Artaxerxes II (404-359) and Darius III. (336-330)
(D) Siglos (5.56 g), Sardis. Av. Great King with dagger and bow the knee running nr Rv:. Oblong Incusum. Carradice type IV C.

PARTHIA/PERSIA, Achaemenid, AR Siglos, 455 - 420 B.C.Achaemenid, AR century, 455-420 BC. BC Sardis. Series IV, group A. Right: The king kneeling right, holding a dagger and a bow. Reverse: Square hollow elongated.
Ref: Carradice IVa, 33-35, SNG Cop.. 284-286.
5.45 g. Small countermark.

PARTHIA/PERSIA, Achaemenid, AR Siglos, 546-510 B.C.Achaemenid. After Croesus; c. 546-510 BC, Siglos, 5.26g.
Obv: Foreparts of lion and bull facing one another.
Rx: Double incuse square.
Grose 86391 comments

PARTHIA/PERSIA, Achaemenid, Darius I, AR Siglos, 520-505 BC.PERSIA. Achaemenid Empire. Time of Darios I (Circa 520-505 BC). Siglos.
Obv: Half-length bust of Persian king or hero right, holding bow and arrows.
Rev: Incuse punch.
Carradice Type I.
5.24 g 15 mm.
Pecunem 23 lot 489

Period of Artaxerxes I-Darius III (375 - 336 BC.) - AR Siglos (5.46 g)Obv. Archer (the Great King) - kneeling right, holding dagger and bow, three annulets on chest.
Rev. Irregular punch.
16x12mm and 5.46 grams.
References: Carradice type IV A/B: SGCV II 4683; BMC Arabia p. 165, 125 ff.; SNG Kayhan 1033 ff., Rosen 674 ff. 1 commentsCanaan

Persia, Achaemenid Empire. Darios I to Xerxes I. (Circa 505-480 BC) AR Siglos

14 mm, 5.38 g

Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint.

Obverse: Persian king or hero, wearing kidaris and kandys, quiver over shoulder, in kneeling-running stance right, drawing bow

Reverse: Incuse punch

Carradice Type II (pl. XI, 12); Meadows, Administration 320; BMC Arabia pl. XXVII, 23; Sunrise 21.

From the Baldwin Maull Collection, purchased 1950s-early 1960s.

The Persians eventual adoption of coinage was related to their conquests of Lydia and then to their conflicts with the Greek city states in the sixth through fourth centuries BC. During these wars, the Persians employed Greek mercenaries, who were accustomed to receiving payment in coinage.

The Persians issued silver sigloi and gold darics (20:1 value) with only a few basic designs. The type of siglos above (Type II), with the full-length king drawing a bow, is attributed to the period 510-480 BC and the third Persian King after Cyrus the Great, Darius I the Great, who is thought to be the human figure represented on the coin.

In general it seems that the circulation patterns of darics and sigloi were fundamentally different – so far there is no single known hoard in which the two types of coins have occurred together. Darics circulated widely and were likely used for the payment of governmental, military (1 per month for the average soldier) and diplomatic expenses. Moreover, once they entered circulation, they would have been readily accepted as bullion anywhere. As the Greeks themselves hardly struck any gold, the daric was almost free of competition on the coin market in its time.

In contrast, hoards of sigloi have been found almost exclusively in the westernmost Persian territories — the central, coastal regions of modern Turkey. From the beginning, sigloi were primarily used for local needs. In international trade the small, relatively unattractive siglos hardly had a chance against the superior Greek competitors, and even the Greek mercenaries serving in Persian service increasingly refused to accept it.

The Persian’s primary mint was certainly Sardes (the mint of the former Lydian kings as well), the seat of the Achaemenid administration for the whole of Asia Minor. As the leading administrative center, Sardes must also have been the collection point for the annual tribute payments from the provinces of Asia Minor, thus ensuring a sufficient supply of precious metals for mint production there. 1 commentsNathan P

Persia, Archaemenid Kings SiglosAR Siglos
Size: 12 ~ 16mm, Weight: 5.44 grams, Die Axis: na

Persia, Archaemenid Kings
Circa 485 - 420 BCE (Xerxes I to Darius II)

Obverse: King advancing right, spear in right hand bow in left.

Reverse: Freeform incuse punch. Uncertain bankers punch mark at centre.

References: Carradice IIIb

Notes:
- Quite a circulated example, but with a nice provenance.

Purchased from Pavlos S. Pavlou 2017, Ex Baldwins Argentum June 2016 part of lot 25, Ex David Sellwood collectionPharsalos

Persia. AR Siglos. Xerxes-Artaxerxes I, 485-424BC. Obv. Bearded King, running right, holding spear and bow
Rev. Incuse punch.
Sardis mint, possibly. 485-424BC.
Carradice type III. LordBest

Persian Achaemenid Siglos Type IIIKneeling-running figure of the Great King right, transverse spear with point downward in right, bow in left, bearded, crowned.

Incuse punch

Sardis mint. c. 490 - 475 BC

5.42g

Carradice Type IIIa. Darius I - Xerxes I

Possibly introduced in connection with the accession of Xerxes, c. 485 BC

Ex-Savoca Coin
2 commentsJay GT4

Persian Achaemenid Siglos Type IVArtaxerxes I, Darius II or Artaxerxes II

King running right, holding dagger and bow, pellets on right arm. Cross shaped bankers stamp before

Incuse punch

5.42 grams.

c. 455 - 375 B.C

Carradice type IV a or b

Ex-Calgary Coin3 commentsJay GT4

Persian AR Siglos - Great KingAchaemenid Kings of Persia, Artaxerxes I - Darius III AR Siglos 15mm 5.34g 450-330 BC.
O: Great King kneeling r. with bow and spear. Two bankers marks.
R: Oblong punch with raised pattern within.
SG4682.
There has been supposition that the raised areas on the reverse are actually a map of the Satrapal territories in Asia Minor. Nice size and weight. _5600Antonivs Protti

Persian AR Siglos - King + Dagger/BowAchaemenid Kings of Persia, Darius I AR Siglos 17mm 5.20g 510-486 BC.
O: Great King kneeling r. with Bow and Dagger. Central square test punch, banker’s mark below l.
R: Oblong punch.
SG - , Head CoLP 27. _6600Antonivs Protti

Persian Empire, Lydia, Anatolia, Darius II - Artaxerxes II, c. 420 - 375 B.C.Silver siglos, (Carradice Type IV (middle) B; plate XIII, 35); weight 5.5g, max. diameter 14.14 mm, Sardeis mint, c. 420 - 350 B.C.; obverse kneeling-running figure of the Great King right, dagger in right, bow in left, bearded, crowned, waist indicated; reverse oblong incuse punch; lion head left within incuse, crescent moon banker's mark.
3 commentsSteve E

Persian Empire, Lydia, Anatolia, Xerxes I - Darius II, 485 - 420 B.C.Silver siglos, Carradice Type IIIb (early), plate XII, 16 ff.(online source); SGCV II 4682; (Carradice NC 1998 pl. 7, 168; Carradice Price p. 67 and pl. 17, 1 ff.), banker's marks on Obv., Rev, & edge; weight 5.54 g, maximum diameter 16.4 mm, Obv. Kneeling-running figure of the Great King right, spear in right, quiver on right shoulder, bow in left, bearded, crowned (off flan); Rev. irregular oblong punch; Light toning in low areas, a few light scratches.

Background Info:
The later kings of Persia, successors of Darius I, continued in the tradition established by that monarch, issuing gold darics and silver sigloi for circulation in western Anatolia. The Lydian capitol of Sardeis, the center of Persian power in the area, was undoubtedly the principal mint, though other cities may have assisted in the production of this enormous coinage. The kneeling archer, with oblong punch on rev., remained the sole type for this Persian imperial coinage down to Alexander's conquest in 330 B.C. Sear GCV II p.426

Many silgoi bear small countermarks, possibly the signets of money changers. A large number of emblems have been recorded. Sear GCV II p.427

2 commentsSteve E

Persian Empire, Lydia, Darius I 1/6 SiglosPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. temp. Darios I to Xerxes I. Circa 505-480 BC. AR Sixth Siglos (7mm, 0.84 g).

O: Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, drawing bow
R: Incuse punch.

Carradice type II; Winzer 1.8 (Darios I), this denomination is otherwise unpublished in refs; cf. Klein 756 (1/4 siglos); SNG Kayhan 1027 (1/3 siglos).

"Darius I the Great ruled the Persian Empire at its peak. He is mentioned in the Biblical books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, Haggai, and Zechariah. He continued to allow the Jewish people to return to Israel and provided money for the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem, which was completed in his sixth year. Darius invaded Greece to subjugate it and to punish Athens and Eretria for aiding the Ionian Revolt. He subjugated Thrace and forced Macedon to become a client kingdom, but his campaign ended at Marathon, where he was famously defeated by a smaller Greek army." - ForvmNemonater

Persian Empire, Siglos (half-stater)Persian Empire, Artaxerxes I-Darius III, c. 450-330 B.C. Lydia. AR Siglos (half-stater). SGCV II 4683 or similar. 15.8 mm, 5.94 g. Obverse: Beardless archer, the Great King, kneeling right, dagger in right, bow in left. Obverse: Oblong punch. Ex Forvm.2 commentsLucas H

Persian Fouree Siglios Persian Empire, Artaxerxes I-Darius III, c. 450-330 B.C. Lydia. Fouree Siglos (half-stater). (4.51g, 15.1m). Obv: Beardless archer, the Great King, kneeling right, dagger in right, bow in left. Obv: Oblong punch. Compare Sear Greek 4682. Ex Warren Esty.

A very early example of a fouree coin. It appears forgers have been plying their trade almost as long as the cealtors.1 commentsLucas H

Persian Satrap Sabakes perished opposing Alexander III the Great at Issos 333 BC.Egypt, Memphis (or Aswan?), Persian Administration, 343-332 BC, Sabakes as Satrap, AR Tetradrachm

Head of Athena right with punchmark X on cheek / Owl standing right, head facing, crescent and olive spray to left, crescent above a stylized thunderbolt(?) (Sabakes symbol) and SWYN (Aswan) in Aramaic script to right, countermark X on owl.
Nicolet-Pierre 6, D4/R-; SNG Copenhagen 3; Van Alfen Type I, O4/R-; Mitchiner 10a; Sear 6232. Van Alfen (AJN 14 2002) countermark 3 on obv. & rev.
(24 mm, 16.91 g, 9h)

Sabakes, to whom the issue of this coin type is attributed, was the penultimate Persian Satrap of Egypt. In 333 BC he led a contingent from Egypt to join the Persian army facing Alexander the Great at Issos, where he perished in battle. It is likely that this coin was struck under his governorship, perhaps for use as payment in preparations for the expeditionary force in support of Darius III. Countermarks are commonly present on these coins and most of the surviving examples are worn, indicating an extended period of circulation. This is consistent with the fact that the next coinage to be struck in Egypt was almost a decade later, shortly before the death of Alexander the Great.
1 comments

Persian siglos with birdmarkPersian Empire, Artaxerxes I - Darius III, c. 450 - 330 B.C., Lydia. Silver siglos (half-stater), SGCV II 4682-3, Fair, Sardes mint, 5.527g, 16.9mm, obverse beardless archer (the Great King) kneeling right; reverse, oblong punch; banker's marks, including one with a water bird. Minted in Lydia while under Persian control in the period prior to Alexander the Great's conquest. Ex FORVM Podiceps

Persian siglos, Darius I/Xerxes I, 505-480 BCEMy first ancient coin, bought on stationary auction in 2012.

Obverse: kneeling king holding a bow, at least that's what the description said. Personally I see there a spear, but I believe the seller.

Reverse: incusum.1 comments

Persian siglos. CountermarksPersian Empire, Artaxerxes I - Darius III, c. 450 - 330 B.C., Lydia. Silver siglos (half-stater), SGCV II 4683, F, grainy, toned, punches, Sardes mint, 5.265g, 16.7mm, obverse beardless archer (the Great King) kneeling right, dagger in right, bow in left; reverse , oblong punch; banker's marks. Ex FORVM, photo credit FORVMPodiceps

Persic Kingdom: Darius II (ca. 1st century BC) AR drachm (Alram-564; MACW-742)Obv: Parthian-style bust of Darius II left, wearing tiara decorated with a crescent
Rev: Attendant standing left, approaching fire altar Quant.Geek

Phraates III (70/69 - 58/7 B.C.)AR Drachm
O: Diademed bust left.
R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow; monogram below bow.
4.06g
21mm
Sellwood 36.9 (Darius?); Shore 155; Sunrise 3212 commentsMat

Pontos, AmisosSear 3642; SNG Copenhagen 170 (monogram on left also not visible); cf. SNG BM 1177 ff.; SNG Stancomb 688 ff.; BMC Pontus p. 19, 69 ff.

AE unit, 7.49 g., 19.97 mm. max., 0°

Struck during reign of Mithradates VI Eupator, circa 85-65 B.C.

Obv: Aegis with facing head of gorgoneion in center.

Rev: AMIâˆ’Î£OY, Nike advancing right, holding palm frond across shoulders behind, AMTE monogram to lower right.

Mithradates VI, king of Pontos (c. 120 to 63 B.C.), was of both Greek and Persian origin, claiming descent from both Alexander the Great and King Darius I of Persia. He was one of Rome's most formidable and successful enemies. Amisos was a rich commercial center under the kings of Pontos, a royal residence and fortress of Mithridates.Stkp

Pontos. Amyntos.Sear 3640; Malloy 26c; Hoover GC 7, 243; SNG British Museum Black Sea 1205-7; SNG Stancomb 697-698; SNG von Aulock 59.

AE unit, 7.74 g., 21.16 mm. max., 0°

Struck during reign of Mithradates VI Eupator, circa 85-65 B.C.

Obv.: Head of Mithradates VI as Dionysus, wearing ivy wreath.

Rev: Thyrsos (staff carried by Dionysus ) leaning against cista mystica (basket housing sacred snakes in connection with the initiation ceremony into cult of Dionysos) draped with panther’s skin, Î‘ÎœÎ™Î£ÎŸÎ¥ below, monogram to left.

Mithradates VI, king of Pontos (c. 120 to 63 B.C.), was of both Greek and Persian origin, claiming descent from both Alexander the Great and King Darius I of Persia. He was one of Rome's most formidable and successful enemies. Amisos was a rich commercial center under the kings of Pontos, a royal residence and fortress of Mithridates.Stkp

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