Coinage of the Greco-Persian War
Around 2,600 years ago one of the greatest empires in history was born in modern day Iran: the Achaemenid Persian Empire. At the height of its power, the empire spanned three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe.
The Persians are known to have created the first road, postal systems, and use of an official language, Aramaic.
This all occurred around the same time the first coins were created. Although they didn't invent coinage, in their conquests the Persians immediately realized the potential of using coins as money. Up to this point, barter was the main method of trade. |
| The strike and detail on this Gold Daric is extraordinary. |
Around 510 B.C. the Persian King Darius began to mint coins in both Silver and Gold, called "Darics". The obverse employed a bearded, crowned archer with a quiver on his back and a drawn bow. The reverse always employed a reverse incuse punch and they weighed about � of an ounce of Gold. The earliest types are very rare in any condition, and seldom seen today.
The Greco-Persian War
The first invasion of Greece by the Persians took place in 490 B.C. at the Battle of Marathon. The famed city of Athens was the battleground. The Persian forces advanced across the Aegean Sea and met a smaller Athenian Army who drove them out of Greece.
Later, in 486 B.C., Cyrus' son Xerxes took control of the Persian Army and personally led the 2nd attack of Athens, this time with the largest army ever assembled. The Persians were victorious and torched the city of Athens. The following year, however, the Greek army launched their own attack on the Persians at the Battle of Plataea, and were successful in ending the invasion of Greece. Shortly after, the Athenians struck some of the most renowned and popular Silver coins in history.
Persian and Athenian Coinage
Sometime around 485 B.C. Xerxes, the "God King" (known in modern culture from the movie 300), slightly modified the daric design. It showed the archer in a nearly identical position, though he appears to be running and kneeling with a bow in his left hand and a long spear in his right. These 2,500 year old coins are extremely rare and we are thrilled to have acquired seven of them from a prominent Ancient Collection. They are a tangible link to the dawn of coinage and one of the most remarkable empires in terms of advancing human civilization.
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Following the victory over the Persians, Athens was reborn as the dominant power in Greece. They began to produce large silver coins called Tetradrachms that showed Athena, the goddess of wisdom on the obverse and her totem bird, the owl, on the reverse. The earliest Athenian Owls are of the highest quality and rarity.
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In the book, 100 Greatest Ancient Coins, Athenian Owls are ranked as #10, so they are very popular and desirable. They are normally encountered very worn, however, we have acquired some remarkable examples.
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Certified by NGC's Ancient Coin Experts
All of our Persian Gold Darics and Silver Athenian Owls have been certified by Numismatic Guarantee Corporations (NGC) Ancient Division. These highly skilled and well-studied experts have decades of experience specializing in the certification of Ancient Coins just like these. Each coin has been meticulously checked under high magnification to ensure that the coins are accurately graded, authenticated and encapsulated to preserve their pristine condition, and with it, their historical significance.
As always receive a 2% discount for check or wire. Order Online or Call 1-800-928-6468 now to reserve yours today!
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