Classical Numismatics Discussion Members' Coin Collection Photo Gallery

Image search results - "Achaemenid"

Xerxes IIAchaemenid Empire. Time of Darios I to Xerxes II, circa 485-420 BC. Siglos (Silver, 16 mm, 5.38 g), Sardes. Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance to right, holding spear and bow. Rev. Incuse punch. Carradice Type IIIa/b. Beautifully toned. Very fine.arash p

Achaemenid EmpireUnknown ruler, 5th - 4th cent. BC, AR siglos, 5,55gr,
SNG Cop 281-283
mint: Sardes, axis: 12h;
obv.: king, bare-headed, w/diadem, advancing in kneeling-running stance, w/lance and bow, long hair, long beard; long tunic;
rev: incuse punch;

ex: G. Clark, VA.1 commentsSchatz

Achaemenid Empire - AR Siglios - 486 - 420 B.C.AR Siglos, 486 - 420 B.C., Lydia, Sardis(?), 15.9mm, 5.35g, 0°, Carradice Type IIIb A/B.
Obv: Great King advancing right, holding bow and scepter; countermark at elbow.
Rev: Incuse punch.Marti Vltori

Achaemenid Empire - AR siglosSardis
times of Artaxerxes I and Dareios II
455-420? BC
hero or king holding bow and dagger right
incuse square
crescent countermark
Carradice type IV (early) A
5,15g 15mmJ. B.

Achaemenid Empire - AR siglosSardis
c. 510/505-486 BC
Great King right bearded and crowned kneeling-running, drawing bow, quiver at shoulder
incuse square
Carradice type II: Carradice plate XI, 11 - 13; BMC Arabia p. 173, 185 ff.; SGCV II 3428; Klein 754; Noe Sigloi pl. XIII, 215 ff.; Carradice NC 1998 pl. 3, 58 ff; Asyut Hoard 714; Winzer 1.6; Sunrise 21. Common. 73935
5,3g 14,5mm
ex SavocaJ. B.

Achaemenid Empire - AR siglosSardis
375-336 BC
Great King kneeling, running right - bearded and crowned, stylistic drapery with broad semi-circular sweep of fold from the left knee back to the right heel holding bow and dagger
incuse square; banker's mark
Carradice type IV (late) C
5,1g 14,5mmJ. B.

ACHAEMENID EMPIRE 1/3 SIGLOSSilver 1/3 Siglos. 10 mm. 1.76 g. Time of Darios I to Xerxes I (505-480 BC).
Obv: Persian king in kneeling-running stance right, drawing bow.
Rev: Incuse rectangular punch.

Carradice Type II; Klein 755.
Nemonater

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 Silver SiglosAchaemenid Empire Silver Siglos
Silver Siglos 5.6 gram
Obverse: Kneeling King as archer Right CMK
Reverse: Incuse punch CMK’s on edge _7500 SOLD

Antonivs Protti

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, Siglos of Lydia.Asia Minor. Lydia. 546-510 BC. Cyrus-Darios I. AR Half Stater (siglos) of Sardis (5.27gm, 15.7mm), Kroiseid type. Facing foreparts of lion left and bull right. / Two incuse punches, one larger. VF. Bt. Coral Gables 1999. Babelon Traité I #409-411; Berk 22; ACNAC Rosen 663; SNG Ashmolean 762-771; SNG Berry II #1140; SNG Cop 5 (Lydia) #456-457; SNG Kayhan 1024-1026, 1738; SNG von Aulock 2877-2879. Lydia is said to be named for the legendary king Lydos.Anaximander

Achaemenid Empire. Artaxerxes II-III. Siglos of Sardes. Asia Minor. Persia, Achaemenid Empire. c. 375‑340 BC. Artaxerxes II-III. AR Siglos (5.44 gm, 14mm) of Sardes. Running/kneeling king right, wearing kidaris & kandys, holding dagger and bow, quiver at shoulder. / "Map" oblong incuse punch. gVF. Carradice Type IV, Group C (pl. XIV, 46); GRPC Lydia S28; Klein 763; Meadows Administration 326; SNG Kayhan pt.1 #1031ff, pt.2 #1746ff; Sunrise 33-36; BMC Arabia 175-177 (pl.XXVII #19).Anaximander

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 KingdomAchaemenid Kingdom. Darios I to Xerxes II. Ca. 485-420 B.C. AR siglos. Good Fine. Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding spear and bow / Incuse punch. Carradice type IIIb/A-B. dpaul7

Achaemenid KingdomAchaemenid Kingdom, Persia. Time of Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II. Circa 485-420 BC. AR Siglos (15mm, 5.53 g). Obv.: Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, holding spear and bow. Rev.: Incuse punch. Eye counterstamp on rim. Reference: Carradice Type IIIb C. Ex Ardatirion collection.dpaul7

Achaemenid Kingdom. Artaxerxes I to Artaxerxes IIAchaemenid Kingdom. Artaxerxes I to Artaxerxes II. Ca. 450-375 B.C. AR siglos (15.69 mm, 4.84 g). Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, holding spear and bow / Rectangular incuse punch. Carradice Type IIIb; SNG Kayhan 1029. Fine, rough.ecoli

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 (c. 420 - 375 BC)Obv.: Persian king (or hero) kneeling or running right, holding spear and bow
rev.: irregular punchesGinolerhino

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

Achaemenind Siglos5.4g

Alexander IIIAlexander III AR Tetradrachm. ‘Amphipolis’ mint. Struck under Kassander, circa 316-314 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; shield in left field, pellet-in-Î below throne. 17.1 g.

Price 136; Troxell, Studies, issue L8.

Thanks for the atribution Lloyd!

Most lifetime issues of Alexander the Great were usualy bulky/thick, which did not alow for the entire design of the die to imprint on the coin. IMO looked better then the wide thin flan. (edit: though this one is Struck under Kassander)

The coin was hand stuck with a die/avil. Dies were usually made of Bronze because it was sofeter and easier to work with then iron, (though some were made of iron as well) then the was anealed to make it stronger and less brittle.

The planchets were made by pouring molten metal into a mold and saved until needed. When it was ready to be used, they heated it just below melting point and placed it between the dies and the punch die was struck with a hammer.

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"Building upon his father's success in Greece, Alexander III (Alexander the Great, reigned 336-323 BC) set about the conquest of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. By the time of his death at the age of 31, he ruled most of the known world from Greece to Afghanistan. Initially Alexander continued to mint Philip's gold and silver coins. Soon, however, the need for a silver coinage that could be widely used in Greece caused him to begin a new coinage on the Athenian weight-standard. His new silver coins, with the head of Herakles on one side and a seated figure of Zeus on the other, also became one of the staple coinages of the Greek world. They were widely imitated within the empire he had forged."

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"......Alexander seems to have liked Amphipolis, because one of his last plans was to spend no less than 315 ton silver for a splendid new temple in the city that was to be dedicated to Artemis Tauropolus. It was never built, but after Alexander's death on 11 June 323 in Babylon, his wife queen Roxane settled in Amphipolis, which appears to have become one of the residences of the Macedonian royals. In 179, king Philip V died in the town."

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Amphipolis , ancient city of Macedonia, on the Strymon (Struma) River near the sea and NE of later Thessaloníki. The place was known as Ennea Hodoi [nine ways] before it was settled and was of interest because of the gold and silver and timber of Mt. Pangaeus (Pangaion), to which it gave access. Athenian colonists were driven out (c.464 BC) by Thracians, but a colony was established in 437 BC Amphipolis became one of the major Greek cities on the N Aegean. This colony was captured by Sparta, and Brasidas and Cleon were both killed in a battle there in 422 BC After it was returned to Athens in 421 BC, it actually had virtual independence until captured (357 BC) by Philip II of Macedon. He had promised to restore it to Athens, and his retention of Amphipolis was a major cause of the war with Athens. In 148 BC it became the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia. Paul, Silas, and Timothy passed through Amphipolis (Acts 17.1). Nearby is the modern Greek village of Amfípolis."

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"A quick look at the WildWinds database( http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/macedonia/kings/alexander_III/t.html ) indicates that the style and monograms are consistent with an Amphipolis issue, with perhaps a little less care than usual in the engraving of the reverse. The closest I could locate with a quick look is Price 133 (variant), although yours appears to have a shield rather than dolphin in the left field reverse."
16 commentsRandygeki(h2)

Alexander III the Great Price-2090AR Drachm 4.27g 17mm
struck under Philoxenos, Miletus Mint, 325-323 B.C.
Obv: Head of Herakles, wearing lion skin headdress, r.
Rev: AΛEΞANΔPOY; Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and eagle standing right with closed wings in his right; to left, monogram.
Price 2090.
Acquired from Leu Numismatik, Web Auction 18, Lot 506, December 19, 2021. ($157)

Following Alexander the Great's conquest of the Achaemenid Empire in 330 B.C. he would use the large silver reserves captured from the recently conquered empire as well as having melted down the Persian silver coinage of the time in order to create his own coins minted to legitimize his reign over the newly established Macedonian Empire. Alexander carefully chose the imagery for which he wanted to portray to his new subjects across the empire like where the reverse of this drachm depicts Zeus seated with his famous iconographic symbol of the Eagle along with Alexander's name in Greek; this is meant to directly tie Alexander as a demi-god and say he is the son of Zeus himself. On the obverse the portrait is said to be of a beardless Hercules with the lionskin cap, but I believe that this is meant to serve a double meaning with the portrait meaning to serve as both the face of Hercules and that of Alexander himself based on what audience may see it. It was culturally unexpectable at this time in Greek culture to depict a living human on coinage rather than gods or mythological creatures, so Alexander was clever enough to disguise himself as Hercules to avoid any scrutiny, but at the same time make the portrait look like himself, so when a Greek looked at the coin they could know that it was Hercules and if a native Persian saw it they would believe it to be of Alexander the Great since the Persians had depicted the portraits of their emperors for years prior to their downfall.

Very fine Style1 commentsTrajanus

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

Athens Emergency Issue Plated Tetradrachm Circa 406-404 BCQuote from David Sear:

"Athens was the greatest power in the Greek world throughout most of the 5th century BC. Its famous 'owl' coinage, principally of silver tetradrachms, possibly commenced in 510 BC on the occasion of the downfall of the tyrant Hippias. On these celebrated coins the helmeted head of the goddess Athena was accompanied by her attendant owl and the first three letters of the ethnic 'AQE'. Later, a diadem of olive leaves was added to Athena's helmet and a cresent moon was placed in the reverse field, though the precise chronological significance of these changes remains uncertain. To the intense chagrin of the Spartans Athens became the leader of the Greek states, including those of Ionia, in the epic struggle against the expansionist policies of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. The victories at Salamis (480 BC) and the Eurymedon (circa 467) clearly established the Athenian supremacy in the Aegean world. Initially, the Delian League (founded in 477) was an alliance of independent states sharing a common cause under the leadership of Athens. It gradually developed into an Athenian maritime empire with the member cities obliged to pay an annual tribute into the League's treasury on Delos. In 454 this treasury, amounting to 5,000 talents of silver, was actually removed to Athens and the vast wealth was openly employed for the aggrandizement of the city, now under the leadership of the great statesman Pericles. Vast building projecdts, such as the monumental edifices on the Acropolis, were financed in this way. From 431, however, Athens became embroiled in the protracted Peloponnesian War and increasingly the wealth of the state was dissipated in this futile cause. This attractive tetradrachm belongs to the exceptionally large ouput of Athenian 'owls' made during the second half of the 5th century. In contrast to the artistic development taking place at mints in other parts of the Mediterranean world, the late archaic style of the earlier 5th century became 'frozen' on these issues which represent the first truly imperial coinage of the Greek world. As Athens restricted or forbade the issue of independent currency at many of the cities within her sphere of influence the 'owls' came to circulate over an increasingly wide area. But this all came to an end with the defeat of Athens by Sparta in 404 BC and during the period immediately preceding this catastrophe the Athenians were reduced to the desperate expedient of issuing bronze tetradrachms and drachms with a thin surface coating of silver. This specimen is an excellent example of this emergency coinage the production of which drew contemporary comment from Aristophanes who, in his play Frogs (717ff), compares the decline in the quality of the leading citizens with the recent debasement of the Athenian coinage."3 comments

Carian tetradrachm - Royal issue ?CARIA, Achaemenid Period. Circa 350-334 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 14.83 g).
Struck circa 350-341 BC. Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, drawing bow / Persian satrap on horseback right, thrusting spear held in his right hand, left hand on rein.
Konuk, Influences, Group 2; SNG Copenhagen (Persian Empire) 290-291 var. (symbol on rev.); Traité II 128; Babelon, Perses 623 var. (symbols on obv.); Pixodarus 1-11.

The archer-horseman tetradrachms are one of the most enigmatic Persian coinages struck in Asia Minor prior to the invasion of Alexander the Great. Though various symbols and letters occur in the fields, no inscription exists to help us identify the issuer, mint, or purpose of issue. Konuk, however, identified two series, with and without subsidiary symbols on the reverse. Also, analysis of the Pixodarus Hoard has allowed the coinage to be dated from the decade beginning circa 350 BC. Additionally, as only the earlier, non-symbol, type is represented, Meadows concluded that the date of deposit of the Pixodarus hoard, 341 BC, served as a tentative divider between the two series. Caffaro

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 IIIa AR Siglos - Xerxes IPERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Time of Xerxes I, c. 480 B.C.
AR Siglos (17mm, 5.28 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 IIIa; Choice pleasing VF.1 commentsCaffaro

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

Carrhae in Mesopotamia, Septimius Severus, AE 24, Lindgren 2557Carrhae in Mesopotamia, Septimius Severus, AE 24, 193-211 AD
Av.: CEΠTIMIOC [CE]OY.... , naked (laureate?) bust of Septimius Severus right
Rv.: ..Λ]OY KAPPH ΛKA... , front view of a tetrastyle temple, the temple of the moon god Sin, in the middle a sacred stone on tripod, on top of stone: crescent, standards (with crescents on top) on both sides inside the building; another crescent in the pediment.
Lindgren 2557 ; BMC p. 82, #4

The city and the region played an important role in roman history.

Carrhae / Harran, (Akkadian Harrânu, "intersecting roads"; Latin Carrhae), an ancient city of strategic importance, an important town in northern Mesopotamia, famous for its temple of the moon god Sin, is now nothing more than a village in southeastern Turkey with an archeological site.
In the Bible it is mentioned as one of the towns where Abraham stayed on his voyage from Ur to the promised land. Abraham's family settled there when they left Ur of the Chaldeans (Genesis 11:31-32).
Inscriptions indicate that Harran existed as early as 2000 B.C. In its prime, it controlled the point where the road from Damascus joins the highway between Nineveh and Carchemish. This location gave Harran strategic value from an early date. It is frequently mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions about 1100 BC, under the name Harranu, or "Road" (Akkadian harrānu, 'road, path, journey' ).
During the fall of the Assyrian Empire, Harran became the stronghold of its lasts king, Ashur-uballit II, being besiged and conquered by Nabopolassar of Babylon at 609 BC. Harran became part of Median Empire after the fall of Assyria, and subsequently passed to the Persian Achaemenid dynasty.
The city remained Persian untill in 331 BC when the soldiers of the Macedonian king Alexander the Great entered the city.
After the death of Alexander on 11 June 323 BC, the city was claimed by his successors: Perdiccas, Antigonus Monophthalmus and Eumenes. These visited the city, but eventually, it became part of the Asian kingdom of Seleucos I (Nicator), the Seleucid empire, and capital of a province called Osrhoene (the Greek term for the old name Urhai).
The Seleucids settled Macedonian veterans at Harran. For a century-and-a-half, the town flourished, and it became independent when the Parthian dynasty of Persia occupied Babylonia. The Parthian and Seleucid kings both needed the buffer state of Osrhoene which was part of the larger Parthian empire and had nearby Edessa as its capital. The dynasty of the Arabian Abgarides, technically a vassal of the Parthian "king of kings" ruled Osrhoene for centuries.

Carrhae was the scene of a disastrous defeat of the Roman general Crassus by the Parthians. In 53 BC. Crassus, leading an army of 50.000, conducted a campaign against Parthia. After he captured a few cities on the way, he hurried to cross the Euphrates River with hopes of receiving laurels and the title of “Emperor”. But as he drove his forces over Rakkan towards Harran, Parthian cavalry besieged his forces in a pincers movement. In the ensuing battle, the Roman army was defeated and decimated. The battle of Carrhae was the beginning of a series of border wars with Parthia for many centuries. Numismatic evidence for these wars or the corresponding peace are for instance the "Signis Receptis" issues of Augustus and the “Janum Clusit” issues of Nero.
Later Lucius Verus tried to conquer Osrhoene and initially was successful. But an epidemic made an annexation impossible. However, a victory monument was erected in Ephesus, and Carrhae/Harran is shown as one of the subject towns.
Septimius Severus finally added Osrhoene to his realms in 195. The typical conic domed houses of ancient Harran can be seen on the Arch of Septimius Severus on the Forum Romanum.
Harran was the chief home of the moon-god Sin, whose temple was rebuilt by several kings. Sin was one of the great gods of the Assurian-Babylonian pantheon.
Caracalla gave Harran the status of a colonia (214 AD) and visited the city and the temple of the moon god in April 217. Meanwhile the moon god (and sacred stones) had become a part of the Roman pantheon and the temple a place to deify the roman emperors (as the standards on both sides of the temple indicate).

Caracalla was murdered while he was on his way from Temple to the palace. If this had been arranged by Macrinus - the prefect of the Praetorian guard who was to be the new emperor – is not quite clear. On the eighth of April, the emperor and his courtiers made a brief trip to the world famous temple of the moon god. When Caracalla halted to perform natural functions, he was assassinated by one of his bodyguards, Julius Martialis, who had a private grudge against the ruler, because he had not been given the post of centurion.

In 296 AD Roman control was again interrupted when nearby Carrhae the emperor Galerius was defeated by the king Narses / the Sasanid dynasty of Persia. The Roman emperor Julianus Apostata sacrificed to the moon god in 363 AD, at the beginning of his ill-fated campaign against the Sassanid Persians. The region continued to be a battle zone between the Romans and Sassanids. It remained Roman (or Byzantine) until 639, when the city finally was captured by the Muslim armies.

At that time, the cult of Sin still existed. After the arrival of the Islam, the adherents of other religions probably went to live in the marshes of the lower Tigris and Euphrates, and are still known as Mandaeans.
The ancient city walls surrounding Harran, 4 kilometer long and 3 kilometer wide, have been repaired throughout the ages (a.o. by the Byzantine emperor Justinian in the sixth century), and large parts are still standing. The position of no less than 187 towers has been identified. Of the six gates (Aleppo gate, Anatolian, Arslanli, Mosul, Baghdad, and Rakka gate), only the first one has remained.

A citadel was built in the 14th century in place of the Temple of Sin. This lies in the south-west quarter of the ancient town. Its ruin can still be visited.

my ancient coin database
1 commentsArminius

Darius IIarash p

EB0082 Persian king or hero / Grand PianoPERSIA. Achaemenid Empire. Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II. AR 1/2 Siglos ca. 420-375 BC.
Obverse: Persian king or hero right, in kneeling-running stance, holding dagger and bow, dotted baseline.
Reverse: Oblong incuse punch.
References: -.
Diameter: 16mm, Weight: 5.334g.1 commentsEB

Ionia, Achaemenid Period: Uncertain Satrap (ca. 350-333 BCE) Æ Unit (Traité II 81; Sunrise 72)Obv: Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, holding spear and bow
Rev: Two concentric squares with line projecting outward from one side
1 commentsQuant.Geek

Iran, Pasargadae (Fars province), a UNESCO World Heritage SiteA massive wall of the fortified terrace at Pasargadae called Throne of Solomon’s Mother
On a plain surrounded by gently rolling hills, about 25 mi north of Persepolis, king Kyros II (the Great) founded the first capital of the multinational Achaemenid empire in the middle of the 6th cent. BC. What is left of it are the remains of 2 royal palaces, a large fortified terrace, and the mausoleum of Kyros II (at the time of my visit heavily scaffolded and therefore unphotographed). After Kyros’ death the capital was used for a while by his successor Kambyses.
Schatz

Iran, Bisitun (Behistun), Kermanshah ProvinceOn the road from Hamadan (ancient Ekbatana) to the city of Kermanshah halfway up Mount Bisitun a number of unique bas reliefs from about 520 BC catch the eye. The Achaemenid king Dareios I (522 - 486 BC) had the largest one chiseled into the face of the mountain to tell the world of his triumph over his rival Gaumata and nine other rebels. The sensational part of the relief are the extensive cuneiform inscriptions above, below, and to the sides of the figures. They are in Elamite, Babylonian, and Old Persian, the latter a language which was created on the king’s order since up to then there was no written Persian language. The creation is a mixture of Elamite, Babylonian, and Aramaic. It was not deciphered until the middle of the 18th cent. AD by a British officer, adventurer, and amateur archeologist Sir Henry Rawlinson.
Schatz

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

Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvinceOn a steep rock face just a few miles north of Persepolis lies the necropolis of the Achaemenid kings consisting of the tombs of Dareios I and three of his successors (the fourth tomb is around the corner). Some time after this picture was taken, the sandy hill in front of the rock was removed so that one could see the Sasanian rock reliefs between and below the tombs from a distance.
Schatz

Kings of Macedon. Philip II (Circa 359-336 BC)AE 16, 6.23 g

Obverse: Head of Apollo right

Reverse: "ΦIΛIΠΠOY" (FILIPPOY) above naked youth on horse right, theta p control mark below

SNG ANS 927

The rise of Macedon during the reign of Philip II was achieved in part by his reformation of the Ancient Macedonian army, establishing the Macedonian phalanx that proved critical in securing victories on the battlefield. After defeating Athens and Thebes at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC, Philip II led the effort to establish a federation of Greek states known as the League of Corinth, with him as the elected hegemon and commander-in-chief of a planned invasion of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia. However, his assassination in 336 BC (perhaps orchestrated by one of his wives, Olympias, and son, Alexander the Great) led to the immediate succession of Alexander.Nathan P

Kings of Persia, Xerxes I - Artaxerxes II, SiglosAchaemenid Empire.
Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II.
Ca. 420-375 BCE
AR Siglos (Sardes)
Obv.: Persian king, wearing radiate tiara, in running/kneeling stance to right, holding dagger in his right hand and bow in his left, quiver over his shoulder.
Rev.: Oblong incuse, bankers' marks
Ref.: BMC Arabia pl. XXVII, 10. Carradice Type IV/B, pl. XIV, 43.shanxi

L. Marcius Philippus - AR denariusRome
¹113 BC / ²113-112 BC
helmet, diademed bust of Philip V king of Macedon right with goat's horns
(ROMA)
Φ
equestrian statue right, holding laurel branch, flower below
L·PHILIPPVS
(XVI)
¹Crawford 293/1, SRCV I 170, Sydenham 551, RSC I Marcia 12
²Mark Passehl - Roman moneyer & coin type chronology, 150 – 50 BC
3,9g 18mm
ex aurea

Reverse shows equestrian statue of L. Marcius Q. f. Philippus who had concluded a peace treaty with Philip V of Maced in 197 BC.
Moneyer was good speaker and important politician. He was tribune 104 BC, consul 91 BC. He was against granting of citizenship to Roman allies what led to Civil war.

"... A final intriguing element on the coinage of the Philippi which unites it across half a century and the shift in emphasis from Makedonian to Roman royalty, is the flower which appears in the same place on the reverses of RRC 293 and 425 (beneath the hooves of the horseman and the equestrian statue of Q. Marcius Rex). Crawford (RRC, 308) calls attention to the Roman tradition about the conception of Mars (legendary ancestor of clan Marcia) when Juno was fertilised by a flower. But to accomodate the distinctively Makedonian theme of RRC 293, it might be preferable to see it as a lily and already understood as a generic symbol of royal blood. This notion seems to originate with the shift of the Achaemenid seat of government from Persepolis to Susa (literally, the city or place of the lily), and this flower is found on both Hasmonaean and Seleukid royal coinage in Hellenistic times before eventually finding its way into the Merovingian and eventually the Capetian regalia. ..." Mark K.P. from McCabe's sites.J. B.

Late Achaemenid seal stone, c. 350-250 BC / 3rd-5th century ADLate Achaemenid-Sassanian
Carnelian seal stone
c. 350-250 BC; recarved c. 3rd-5th century AD
Winged, man-headed horse seated l., Sassanian-era Pahlavi letters below
Ardatirion

Macedonian Kingdom, Philip II, 359 - 336 B.C., Lifetime IssueSilver tetradrachm, Le Rider 233 (D130/R188); SNG ANS 385 ff., VF, Pella, 14.163g, 25.4mm, 225o, 342 - 336 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Zeus right; reverse "FILIPPOU", naked youth on horse pacing right on horseback holding palm, thunderbolt below; ex CNG 214, 82; very high relief sculptural portrait, nice style, lifetime issue. Ex FORVM.

Philip II expanded the size and influence of the Macedonian Kingdom, but is perhaps best known as the father of Alexander the Great. He personally selected the design of his coins.

Philip II of Macedon (382 BC–336 BC; in Greek Î¦Î¯Î»Î¹Ï€Ï€Î¿Ï‚ = Ï†Î¯Î»Î¿Ï‚ (friend) + Î¯Ï€Ï€Î¿Ï‚ (horse), transliterated Philippos) was the King of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination. He was the father of Alexander the Great, Phillip III Arrhidaeus, and possibly Ptolemy I Soter, founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Born in Pella, Philip was the youngest son of King Amyntas III and Eurydice. In his youth, (ca. 368 BC–365 BC) Philip was a hostage in Thebes, which was the leading city of Greece during the Theban hegemony. While a captive there, Philip received a military and diplomatic education from Epaminondas, was involved in a pederastic relationship with Pelopidas and lived with Pammenes, who was an enthusiastic advocate of the Sacred Band of Thebes. In 364 BC, Philip returned to Macedonia. The deaths of Philip's elder brothers, King Alexander II and Perdiccas III, allowed him to take the throne in 359 BC. Originally appointed regent for his infant nephew Amyntas IV, who was the son of Perdiccas III, Philip managed to take the kingdom for himself that same year.

Philip's military skills and expansionist vision of Macedonian greatness brought him early success. The hill tribes were broken by a single battle in 358 BC, and Philip established his authority inland as far as Lake Ohrid. He used the Social War as an opportunity for expansion. In 357 BC, he took the Athenian colony of Amphipolis, which commanded the gold mines of Mount Pangaion. That same year Philip married the Epirote princess Olympias, who was the daughter of the king of the Molossians. In 356 BC, Philip conquered the town of Crenides and changed its name to Philippi. Philip also attacked Abdera and Maronea, on the Thracian sea-board. Also in 356 Alexander was born and his race horse won in the Olympics in He took Methone in 354 BC, a town which had belonged to Athens. During the siege of Methone, Philip lost an eye.

Not until his armies were opposed by Athens at Thermopylae in 352 BC did Philip face any serious resistance. Philip did not attempt to advance into central Greece because the Athenians had occupied Thermopylae. Also in 352 BC, the Macedonian army won a complete victory over the Phocians at the Battle of Crocus Field. This battle made Philip tagus of Thessaly, and he claimed as his own Magnesia, with the important harbour of Pagasae.
Hostilities with Athens did not yet take place, but Athens was threatened by the Macedonian party which Philip's gold created in Euboea. From 352 to 346 BC, Philip did not again come south. He was active in completing the subjugation of the Balkan hill-country to the west and north, and in reducing the Greek cities of the coast as far as the Hebrus (Maritza). For the chief of these coastal cities, Olynthus, Philip continued to profess friendship until its neighboring cities were in his hands.

In 349 BC, Philip started the siege of Olynthus. Olynthus at first allied itself with Philip, but later shifted its allegiance to Athens. The Athenians did nothing to help Olynthus. Philip finally took Olynthus in 348 BC and razed the city to the ground. In 346 BC, he intervened effectively in the war between Thebes and the Phocians, but his wars with Athens continued intermittently.

Macedonia and the regions adjoining it having now been securely consolidated, Philip celebrated his Olympic games at Dium. In 347 BC, Philip advanced to the conquest of the eastern districts about the Hebrus, and compelled the submission of the Thracian prince Cersobleptes. Meanwhile, Athens had made overtures for peace, and when Philip, in 346 BC, again moved south, peace was sworn in Thessaly. With key Greek city-states in submission, Philip turned to Sparta; he sent them a message, "You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people, and raze your city." Their reply was "If." Philip and Alexander would both leave them alone. Later, the Macedonian arms were carried across Epirus to the Adriatic Sea. In 342 BC, Philip led a great military expedition north against the Scythians, conquering the Thracian fortified settlement Eumolpia to give it his name, Philippoupolis (modern Plovdiv).

In 340 BC, Philip started the siege of Perinthus. Philip began another siege in 339 BC of the city of Byzantium. After unsuccessful sieges of both cities, Philip's influence all over Greece was compromised. However, Philip successfully reasserted his authority in the Aegean by defeating an alliance of Thebans and Athenians at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC. He erected a memorial of a marble lion to the Sacred Band of Thebes for their bravery that still stands today. Philip created and led the League of Corinth in 337 BC. Members of the League agreed never to wage war against each other, unless it was to suppress revolution. Philip was elected as leader (hegemon) of the army of invasion against the Persian Empire. In 336 BC, when the invasion of Persia was in its very early stage, Philip was assassinated, and was succeeded on the throne of Macedon by his son Alexander the Great.

Philip’s Assassination

The murder happened in October of 336 BC, at Aegae, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Macedon. The court had gathered there for the celebration of the marriage between Alexander of Epirus and Philip's daughter. While the king was entering unprotected into the town's theatre (highlighting his approachability to the Greek diplomats present), he was killed by Pausanias of Orestis, one of Philip's seven bodyguards. The assassin immediately tried to escape and reach his associates who were waiting for him with horses at the entrance of Aegae. He was pursued by three of Philip's bodyguards and died by their hands.
The reasons for Pausanias' assassination of Phillip are difficult to fully expound, since there was controversy already among ancient historians. The only contemporary account in our possession is that of Aristotle, who states rather tersely that Philip was killed because Pausanias had been offended by the followers of Attalus, the king's father-in-law.

Whatever else that may be written about Philip II it must be recognized that he was responsible for making Macedon the ascendant Greek power. He reorganized the Macedonian army. It was this army that Alexander the Great inherited. Phillip II trained some of Alexander’s best generals: Antigonus Cyclops, Antipater, Nearchus, Parmenion, and Perdiccas.

According to the Greek historian Theopompus of Chios, Europe had never seen a man like king Philip of Macedonia, and he called his history of the mid-fourth century BCE the Philippic History. Theopompus had a point. Not even his better known son Alexander has done so much to change the course of Greek history. Philip reorganized his kingdom, gave it access to the sea, expanded its power so that it could defeat the Achaemenid Empire, and subdued the Greek city-states, which never regained their independence again. To achieve this, he modernized the Macedonian economy, improved the army, and concluded several marital alliances. The result was a superpower with one weakness: it was as strong as its king. When Philip's son Alexander died, the institutions were too weak, and Macedonia never recovered.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_II_of_Macedon
http://www.livius.org/phi-php/philip/philip_ii.htm
Ed. by J. P. Fitzgerald, Jr.1 commentsCleisthenes

Mazaios Obol, Artaxerxes III / Lion attacking bull CILICIA. Tarsos. Mazaios (Satrap of Cilicia, 361/0-334 BC). Obol. 0.7 g., 12 mm.
O: Artaxerxes III (in the guise of Baaltars) seated right on throne with back terminating in head of swan, holding lotus flower and lotus-tipped sceptre.
R: Lion attacking bull right.
- Ziegler -; Casabonne Series 6; SNG BN 426-8 (Myriandros); SNG Levante 183 (Myriandros).

The appearance of Baaltars on this issue is significantly different from the relatively standard depiction of the deity on other coins of Tarsos. While the diety is typically shown nude to his waist, here the figure is fully clothed with attire that closely resembles that on the figure that appears on the royal Persian coinage struck at Sardes. More importanly, though, is the headdress on the figure. Baaltars typically wears a laurel wreath or no headdress, while this portrait shows the figure wearing an elaborate headdress. In a recent article, Frank Kovacs analysed the type, and argues that this figure is actually the Great King Araxeres III Ochos, in the guise of Baaltars, and the headdress is the combined crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, thus his appearance here is as pharaoh of Egypt (cf. F. Kovacs, "Two Persian Pharaonic Potraits" in JNG L [2000]; see also M. Thompson, in MN XII [1968], pp. 11–2, who notes the figure wearing a "high crown of Egyptian type"). This is plausible, as Araxerxes was the first pharaoh of the Thirty-First Dynasty of Egypt, and the date of his rule there, 343-338 BC, comports well with this issue under Mazaios.

O. Casabonne, while acknowledging that the figure here may represent a synthesis of Baaltars and the Great King, disagrees with the identification of the headdress as the Egyptian crown. Instead, he views the headdress as being a Phrigian style cap that is often depicted in contemporary art as being worn by warriors (cf. Casabonne, p. 121, fig. 8), but is here shown with the cheek guards in a raised position.

Nonetheless, it is doubless that the figure here is a synthesized portrait of Baaltars and the Persian Great King. The fractional silver of this issue, interestingly, may be most instructive, as the headdress on the figure is shown wearing a crown that is identical to that on the figure of the royal Achaemenid coinage and his robes have interlocking circles reminiscent of the darics of Carradice Type IV Late (cf. M. Thompson, op. cit. , p. 12).4 commentsNemonater

Mithradates II., 121-91 BCAR dr., 4,2gr, 21,1mm; Sellwood 26.1 (with this coin the Achaemenid throne is introduced in the coinage replacing the omphalos), Shore 77, Sunrise 290, 291;
mint: Ekbatana; axis: 12h;
obv.: bare-headed bust, left, w/diadem and broad ribbons; short cap like hair, mustache, long beard; earring, multi-turn torque w/griffin finial; cuirass; dotted border 10 to 17h;
rev.: very detailed archer, right, on throne, w/bow and arrow in one hand; 4-line legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY APΣAKoY EΠIΦANoY(Σ); long exergual line;

ex: V-Auction 252 (ex: B. Campgate Collection)Schatz

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 Kings, c. 420 - 350 B.C. Lydia, Sardes mint. Persian Empire, Achaemenid Kings, c. 420 - 350 B.C. Lydia, Sardes mint. AR siglos, 5.511 g, 14.2 mm, near VF. Obv: bearded Great King kneeling right, dagger drawn back in right, bow in left. Rev: oblong incuse punch; helmet facing in center of incuse. Ref: BMC Persian Empire p. 165, 124 (the BMC rev symbol is obscure and not identified as a helmet but is the same shape). A number of markings in the reverse dies of sigloi of this same Carradice type and group are known. (cf. Carradice, "The Dinar Hoard of Persian Sigloi," Essays Price, p. 71, 146-151). All are rare. This particular symbol is not noted but appears to be the same as the referenced BMC coin. Extremely rare

PARTHIA/PERSIA, Achaemenid siglosLydian style, Carradice type 1, Carradice type 2, Carradice type 3 high relief, Carradice type 3 full weaponry, Carradice type 4 with 4 buttons, Carradice type 4 with almond shaped eye.

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, 420-375 bcPersia, Achaemenid Empire AR Siglos. Time of Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II, circa 420-375 BC.
Persian king kneeling right, holding spear and bow; quiver over shoulder / Incuse punch.
Carradice type IIIb C; BMC Arabia pl. XXV, 15.
5.54g, 15mm.

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, 475-450 bcLydia Persian king/hero 475-450 bc Siglos high relief .
Carradice IIIb

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, AR Siglos, c.505 - 480 B.C.PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. temp. Darios I to Xerxes I. Circa 505-480 BC. AR Siglos (14.5mm, 5.28 g).
O: Persian king or hero, wearing kidaris and kandys, quiver over shoulder, in kneeling-running stance right, drawing bow
R: Incuse punch.
Carradice Type II (pl. XI, 12); Meadows, Administration 320; BMC Arabia pl. XXVII, 23; Sunrise 21.

PARTHIA/PERSIA, Achaemenid, AR Siglos, c.5th century B.C.Greeks Persia
Achaemenid AR Siglos 5th century v.u.Z. Av .: Persian archer in the running knee with bow to right , Rv .: Incusum , the Greeks called this Sigloi Toxotai = archer.
SNG Berry comp. 1446 type iv c.
5:49 g .1 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

PersiaPersia, Achaemenid Empire
Siglos 450-330 B.C
Obverse:Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, holding bow and dagger
Reverse:Oblong punch

15.86mm 5.54gm

SEAR 4683maik

PersiaPersia, Achaemenid Empire
Siglos 450-330 B.C
Obverse:Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, holding bow
Reverse:Oblong punch

5.56gm 15.27mm

Sear 4683maik

Persia, Achaemenid Empire450-330 B.C.
Silver Siglos
5.19 gm, 18 mm
Obv.: Great King/hero kneeling-running right, holding dagger (akinakès) and bow
Rev.: rectangular punch with irregular pattern
Carradice type IV, B late style; Sear 46831 commentsJaimelai

Persia, Achaemenid Empire Time of Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II, c. 420-375 BC.
AR Siglos, 16mm, 5.4g.
Obv.: Persian king kneeling right, holding spear and bow; quiver over shoulder.
Rev.: Irregular rectangular incuse punch.
Reference: Carradice type IIIb C; BMC Arabia pl. XXV, 15 / 17-119-162John Anthony

Persia, Achaemenid Empire, Time of Darios I. to Artaxerxes II, (cc. 490-375 B.C.) AR-Siglos, Type IIIb., Persia, Achaemenid Empire, Time of Darios I. to Artaxerxes II, (cc. 490-375 B.C.) AR-Siglos, Type IIIb.,
avers: Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance to right, holding spear and bow.
reverse: Incuse punch.
exergue: -/-//--, diameter: 12,5x16mm, weight: 5,20g, axes: h,
mint: Achaemenid Empire, Typ:III, date: cc. 485-420 B.C., ref: Carradice type IIIb, pl.XII, 16-19, (Countermarks on rev. No:14 and 34),
Q-0011 commentsquadrans

Persia, Achaemenid Empire, Time of Darios I. to Artaxerxes II, (cc. 490-375 B.C.) AR-Siglos, Type IIIb., Persia, Achaemenid Empire, Time of Darios I. to Artaxerxes II, (cc. 490-375 B.C.) AR-Siglos, Type IIIb.,
avers: Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance to right, holding spear and bow, with some control countermarks.
reverse: Incuse punch, with some control countermarks.
exergue: -/-//--, diameter: 12,0x16,0mm, weight: 5,13g, axes: 0h,
mint: Achaemenid Empire, Typ:III, date: cc. 485-420 B.C., ref: Carradice type IIIb, pl.XII, 16-19, (Several Countermarks on avers and reverse),
Q-0011 commentsquadrans

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, Achaemenid Empire. Darios I to Xerxes II (Circa 485-420 BC)AR Siglos

18 mm, 5.59 g

Sardes Mint

Obverse: Persian king in kneeling-running stance right, holding spear and bow, quiver over shoulder.
Reverse: Incuse rectangular punch.

Carradice Type IIIb (early)

Type III siglos (490-375 BC) all have the kneeling-running figure of the Great King right, transverse spear with point downward in right, bow in left hand, bearded, and crowned. They were possibly introduced in connection with the accession of Xerxes. Type IIIb is characterized by a heavier weight (5.55-5.6g vs. 5.3-5.39g for the earlier Type A) and often exhibits a cartoon-like large eye and aquiline nose (evident above).Nathan P

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