The Siglos: a Persian numismatic guide
Silver siglos, the daric's companion denomination struck chiefly at Sardis. 1 catalogued example spanning Achaemenid Empire.
In short
The siglos is the silver companion to the Achaemenid daric — about 5.4–5.6 g, struck chiefly at Sardis, showing the same kneeling royal archer and exchanging at twenty sigloi to one gold daric. The Siglos is a Persian and Iranian denomination represented by 1 catalogued example dated 375 BCE – 485 CE. Silver siglos, the daric's companion denomination struck chiefly at Sardis. Examples here are struck in Silver at mints including Sardis.
- Catalogued
- 1
- Eras
- 1
- Metals
- 1
- Denominations
- 1
Key facts
| Catalogued pieces | 1 |
|---|---|
| Date range | 375 BCE – 485 CE |
| Eras represented | Achaemenid Empire |
| Metals | Silver |
| Denominations | Siglos |
| Mints | Sardis |
| Issuers | Xerxes I – Artaxerxes II |
| Weight | ~5.4–5.6 g silver |
| Exchange rate | 20 sigloi = 1 gold daric |
| Principal mint | Sardis |
| Reverse | Irregular incuse punch |
The silver half of a bimetallic system
Darius I's monetary reform paired a gold coin for high-value payments with a silver coin for regional circulation. The siglos, whose name descends from the Semitic shekel, served western Anatolia and the Aegean fringe of the empire, where a coin economy already existed.
Inland Iran largely continued to use weighed silver, which is why sigloi are found overwhelmingly in Anatolian and Aegean contexts rather than on the plateau — an important point when judging a piece offered as an 'Iranian' find.
Types and condition
Sigloi follow the same Carradice type sequence as the daric, from the half-figure archer of Type I to the dagger-bearing archer of Type IV and the flattened late Type V. The reverse is an irregular incuse punch, never a design.
Banker's marks — small punches applied by merchants testing the metal — are extremely common and are considered part of the coin's history rather than damage, though heavy marking does reduce value.
Achaemenid Empire · 550 – 330 BCE
Era overview →Frequently asked about Siglos
- What is a siglos?
- The Achaemenid silver coin of about 5.5 g bearing the kneeling royal archer, struck mainly at Sardis and worth one-twentieth of a gold daric.
- Why do sigloi have punch marks?
- Ancient merchants tested the silver with small chisel or punch marks. They are normal on the series and only reduce value when heavy enough to obscure the design.
- What is a Siglos?
- The Siglos is a Persian and Iranian denomination represented by 1 catalogued example dated 375 BCE – 485 CE. Silver siglos, the daric's companion denomination struck chiefly at Sardis. Examples here are struck in Silver at mints including Sardis.
- How many Siglos pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
- 1 item, dated 375 BCE – 485 CE, spread across 1 era: Achaemenid Empire.
- Which metals were used for Siglos coinage?
- Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
- Where were Siglos coins minted?
- Recorded mints include Sardis.