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Darius I (522–486 BCE) reformed imperial coinage, issuing the gold Daric and silver Siglos. Bearing the running or kneeling archer-king, they are among the most iconic ancient coins.
Darius the Great standardised a bimetallic system: the gold Daric (~8.4 g, ~95% pure) and the silver Siglos (~5.4 g). One Daric equaled 20 Sigloi.
The famous archer-king types evolved through five canonical groups (Type I–V) recognised by Carradice. Most were struck at Sardis for Anatolian provinces; satrapal mints produced regional issues.
Satrapal coinage — issued by governors such as Tissaphernes, Pharnabazos and Mazaios — adopted Greek styles while retaining Persian iconography.
Darius I to Darius III
ObverseBearded king in kidaris crown, kneeling-running right, holding spear and bow.
ReverseIrregular oblong incuse punch.
The Greeks called them 'archers' — Agesilaus famously said he was 'driven out of Asia by 10,000 archers'.
Xerxes I – Artaxerxes II
ObverseKing with bow and dagger, transitional kneeling pose.
ReverseRough incuse.
20 Sigloi = 1 Daric. Hundreds of thousands survive — the most common Achaemenid coin.
Achaemenid satrap (probably Tiribazos)
ObverseBearded satrap in Persian tiara.
ReverseGreek-style figure, mint inscription.
Among the earliest realistic portraits in Western coinage.
Darius III / Alexander era
ObverseArcher-king right, deep relief.
ReversePlain or letter monogram.
Continuation of Persian types under Macedonian rule for paying mercenaries.
Mazaios, Satrap of Babylon
ObverseBa'al of Tarsos enthroned, holding sceptre and eagle.
ReverseLion walking left above a city wall — symbol of Babylon.
Struck by Mazaios, the Achaemenid satrap who surrendered Babylon to Alexander in 331 BCE and was confirmed as governor. His coinage is a hinge moment: Achaemenid satrapal iconography continued unchanged into the early Macedonian administration.