Sale: Nomos 5, Lot: 195. Estimate CHF2750.  Closing Date: Monday, 24 October 2011.  Sold For CHF3000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. Time of Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II. Circa 420-375 BC. Daric (Gold, 8.35 g). Persian king moving to right, in the running-kneeling position, with quiver over his shoulder and holding transverse spear in his right hand and bow in his left. Rev. Oblong incuse. BMC Arabia pl. XXV, 12. Carradice Type IIIb C, pl. XIV, 42. An attractive, toned example, well struck on a broad flan. Minted from slightly worn and rusty dies, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From the PDB collection, and from those of E. Gans and Lady Duveen.

Persian Darics, which were basically intended for use with Western clients in mind (they did not circulate in the East until later) were produced from several indeterminate mints in Asia Minor. They were, in fact, the successors of the Kroisid gold staters and appeared when the Persian rulers decided to have coins with Persian types rather than reusing those of their defeated foe. Most of the Persian darics and sigloi are of very crude style - it was the purity of the metal that was important - but some relatively rare ones, like this one, are actually quite elegant.