Tied for finest known at NGC, this Achaemenid gold Daric stands at the top of a series that Alexander's conquest nearly erased. The Daric served as the gold coin of the Persian Empire, struck through the 5th and 4th centuries BC and honored from the Aegean to the Indus. Greeks nicknamed these pieces archers for the bow the Persian king carries, since Persian gold quietly funded allies and mercenaries across the Greek world. Most Darics circulated hard or went to the melting pot after 330 BC, so an untouched survivor like this one is a genuine rarity.

The obverse shows the royal hero-king in the familiar kneeling-running pose, crowned and bearded, with a bow in one hand and a spear in the other. Deep folds run through his robe, while the strike brings up the crenellated crown and the fine lines of the beard with sharp relief. The engraving is unusually refined for the type, with strong device definition across the whole figure. The reverse carries no design, only the irregular incuse punch that marks authentic Daric production.

NGC graded this Daric Choice Mint State★, adding the Star for exceptional eye appeal along with perfect 5/5 marks for both strike and surface and a Fine Style designation. The gold keeps bright original luster, the centering is generous for the type, and the high points show no trace of wear. Very few Darics of any reign combine this level of preservation with dies of this quality, which places the coin in the top tier of graded examples anywhere. For those seeking a truly top-flight example of ancient Persian gold, this Daric delivers. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.

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