My most recently acquired ancient coin, from the latest Triskeles/ Vauctions sale: Achaemenid Empire. AR siglos (5.44 g, 13 x 15 mm). c.375-340 BC (Time of Artaxerxes II- Artaxerxes III). Obverse: King kneeling/running right, holding bow and dagger. Three countermarks: Knot pattern (?), flower, rosebud (?). Reverse: infuse punch. The Achaemenid Empire was founded by the Persian king Cyrus the Great about 550 BC and lasted until its conquest by Alexander the Great in 330 BC. It was the largest empire of its time, not surpassed until (you guessed it) Alexander. This period is looked back on as the origin of much of Persian culture, and is a source of pride for Iranians. Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi threw a huge party at the ruins of Persepolis to celebrate the 2500th anniversary of continuous Persian monarchy in 1971*, and thereby assert himself as a worthy successor to Cyrus. Even today, schoolchildren in the Islamic Republic of Iran are taught to take pride in the pre-Islamic Persian past, particularly the Achaemenids. The main coinage in the empire was struck in Lydia, in western Asia Minor, in the form of gold darics and silver sigloi that were somewhat crude, bean-shaped, with a simple punch mark on the reverse and an obverse design showing the king either pulling a bowstring, holding bow and spear, or holding bow and dagger. The dagger type is thought to be the last issued, c. 375-340 BC (Achaemenid coinage lacks inscriptions, making precise dates impossible). This coin is better struck than many, with the king well-centered and missing just his feet. The three clear countermarks (presumably bankers' marks) add to the interest. The "knot" that is touching the king's head reminds me of a pretzel. I won this in the Triskeles/ Vauctions sale at $100, which is a reasonable price for a moderately well-preserved siglos. Post your Achaemenid coins, or anything else related. *How you get precisely 2500 years from 550 BC to 1971 AD is a mystery, as is how you could call Persian history since Cyrus a "continuous monarchy." Incidentally, the enormous wasteful expense of the celebration (over $100 million, not adjusted for inflation) was used against the Shah by his enemies and helped lead to his downfall a few years later.
WOW, I REALLY like the bankers' marks on yours! NICE! My Achaemenids: Persia Achaemenid Empire Darius I 510-486 BCE AR 0.11g 5mm Persian hero-king in running-kneel Oblong incuse Klein 758 Rare Persia Achaemenid Type IV dagger quiver running Darius I to Xerxes II 455-420 BCE AR QUARTER-Siglos 1.35g 8mm Incuse rev PERSIA Achaemenid Darius I - Xerxes II 485-420 BCE AV Daric 14mm 8.3g LydoMilesian Sardes king wearing kidaris kandys quiver spear bow Incuse Carr Type IIIb Group A-B pl XIII 27 Persia Achamenid Type III spear over shoulder Darius I to Xerxes II Ca 485-420 BCE AR Siglos Bankers Marks Incuse rev.JPG Persia Achamenid Type IV Artaxerxes II to Darius III 375-336 BCE AR siglos 15.2mm 5.45g running stance r daggar bow incuse BMC 172ff rev.JPG (These may had been used by Darius III to help finance the War against Alexander III...)
That's a great one. I really like the countermarks, which they were nice enough to place around the design rather than over it. These chubby Achaemenid nuggets are really fun to hold.
I always figured mine gathered extra tests because it was struck crosswize on the flan and looked suspicious. The count depends on how you handle the punch marks but the best c/m is the owl on obverse left.
Look at that subtle off-white coloring; the tasteful thickness of it... Oh my God, it even has a countermark.
ACHAEMENID EMPIRE AR Siglos OBVERSE: Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding spear and bow REVERSE: Incuse punch Struck at Persia, 485-420 BC 5.5g, 16mm Carradice Type IIIb, Group A/B (pl. XII, 18)
Nice coin and write up @Parthicus! I really need to pull the trigger on one of these. You have a lot of cool Achaemenids Brian. I remember being impressed when you posted that sweet daric right after you won it. I love how the flow lines make him look like he's running.
Nice ... Parthicus, congrats on scoring that neat OP-addition (very cool) Oh, and great thread-coins, gang Ummm, I have a very humble example with a sweet banker's mark ...
I am going to guess by using the Islamic calendar... but then it should be even more than 2500 shouldn't it? Okay, I change my guess to relying on the ignorance of the populace... Anyway, here is my single with countermark: Persian Empire Darius I to Xerxes II, r. 485-420 B.C. Sardes Mint, AR Siglos, 15.87mm x 5.6 grams Obv.: King running right holding spear and bow Rev.: Incuse punch Ref.: Carradice Type IIIb, Group A/B
