I have this chunk of silver coin..resembles Achaemenids siglos..4.92gr 12 X 17mm h.3.9mm Any ideas? Thanks
Yes, definitely Achaemenid. I _think_ this is the type where the king is holding a dagger in his back hand (rather than a spear), but hard to tell on your specimen since it's so worn. The dagger type is thought to be a bit later (c. 375-340 BC) than the spear type (c. 420-375 BC).
Forum Ancient Coins' "Numiswiki" has a good page on these... and good pages for many other of the questions you ask. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=siglos
It is hard to find this type with the bow and the dagger on flan. I'm happy with mine even though the bow is partial because the crown is clear. That is a bit more common than the kind with the staff/spear. However, yours is worn enough that I could not rule out it being the much more scarce type where the archer is actually shooting an arrow but that type should show a trace of the quiver on the king's back.
Nice Siglos @KirkCumberland ! Fun start, and the page @TIF gave is a great place to start as well as understand them. Cool histories. I have a few as I am starting to build-out this category for my collection: SIGLOI: Achaemenid Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II 420-375 BC AR siglos 16 mm 5.14 g Persian king running spear bow - incuse Carradice Type IIIb C pl XIV 42) Sunrise 25 Persia Achamenid Type IV Artaxerxes II to Daris III 375-336 BCE AR siglos 15.2mm 5.45g running stance r daggar bow incuse BMC 172ff rev Persia Achamenid Type IV dagger quiver running Darius I to Xerxes II 455-420 BCE AR QUARTER-Siglos 1.35g 8mm Incuse rev Persia Achamenid Type III spear over shoulder Darius I to Xerxes II Ca 485-420 BCE AR Siglos Bankers Marks Incuse rev Persia Achaemenid Empire Darius I 510-486 BC AR 0.11g 5mm Persian hero-king in running-kneel Oblong incuse Klein 758 Rare
Guess I should share mine, then... my example of the spear type: And a dagger type. This has three prominent "banker's marks":
