Persian Treasury
Ruler

Coinage of Darius I to Darius III

1 catalogued issue of Darius I to Darius III — metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions with references.

In short

From Darius I (522–486 BCE) to Darius III (336–330 BCE), the Achaemenid archer coinage barely changed — nearly two centuries of gold darics and silver sigloi bearing the same kneeling royal bowman. Darius I to Darius III issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 330 BCE – 485 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Gold at Sardis (primary).

Catalogued
1
Eras
1
Metals
1
Denominations
1

Key facts

Key facts about Darius I to Darius III in the Persian Treasury catalogue
Catalogued pieces1
Date range330 BCE – 485 CE
Eras representedAchaemenid Empire
MetalsGold
DenominationsDaric
MintsSardis (primary)
Spanc. 515–330 BCE
Gold daric≈8.4 g, 95–98% fine
Silver siglos≈5.4–5.6 g; 20 to the daric
ClassificationCarradice types I–V

An anonymous royal type

The archer is not a portrait of any individual king: it is the institution of kingship, crowned, bearded and armed. That deliberate anonymity is why the series is catalogued by Carradice type rather than by reign.

Types I to V mark stylistic evolution — half-figure, then kneeling-running with bow and spear, then with dagger, then a flattened late style — which is the practical basis for dating.

Why stability mattered

A coin type that never changes is a coin nobody has to re-evaluate. The daric's unchanging weight, purity and image made it accepted from the Aegean to the Indus for two hundred years.

Alexander ended the series after 330 BCE, replacing it with his own imperial coinage — but the archer had already outlasted every rival currency of its era.

Achaemenid Empire · 550 – 330 BCE

Era overview →

Gold Daric (Type IV)

Darius I to Darius III

c. 485–330 BCE

The Greeks called them 'archers' — Agesilaus famously said he was 'driven out of Asia by 10,000 archers'.

Frequently asked about Darius I to Darius III

Which king is on a daric?
None specifically. The kneeling archer represents Achaemenid kingship in the abstract, which is why darics are dated by type rather than by reign.
How are darics dated?
By Carradice's five-type stylistic sequence, using the archer's pose, weapons and engraving style together with the shape of the reverse incuse.
What coins did Darius I to Darius III issue?
Darius I to Darius III issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 330 BCE – 485 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Gold at Sardis (primary).
How many Darius I to Darius III pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
1 item, dated 330 BCE – 485 CE, spread across 1 era: Achaemenid Empire.
Which metals were used for Darius I to Darius III coinage?
Gold. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
Which denominations are associated with Darius I to Darius III?
Daric. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.
Where were Darius I to Darius III coins minted?
Recorded mints include Sardis (primary).

Explore related hubs

Denominations here

Metals here