Achaemenid Kingdom Double Daric
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Extremely rare Achaemenid gold Double Daric weighing 16.54 g, featuring a royal figure on the obverse and an incuse punch on the reverse.
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Description from the seller
EXCEPTIONALLY RARE ACHAEMENID DOUBLE DARIC
A Unicorn of the Ancient Numismatic World
Gold Double Daric — 16.54 g
Scale reading: 16.6 g
Obverse: Royal figure
Reverse: Incuse punch
An exceptionally rare and historically evocative Achaemenid Double Daric, weighing an exact 16.54 grams — approximately twice the weight of the celebrated Achaemenid Daric.
This is NOT to be confused with the far more commonly encountered single Daric, which typically weighs approximately 8.4 grams. The present specimen belongs to an altogether different and extraordinarily rare denomination.
The Achaemenid Daric became one of the great gold currencies of the ancient Near East. Following the conquest of the Achaemenid Empire by Alexander III of Macedon (“Alexander the Great”), the vast Achaemenid royal treasuries were absorbed into the rapidly expanding Hellenistic monetary system. The standard gold stater of the Hellenistic world weighed approximately 8.5 grams, making the traditional Achaemenid Daric, at around 8.4 grams, broadly compatible with the prevailing gold-stater standard and therefore the regular Daric remained in circulation.
The Double Daric, however, presented an entirely different proposition. At approximately 16.5 grams, it represented two Daric weight units struck as a single piece, without a direct and widely established Hellenistic equivalent. Such large gold denominations were therefore particularly vulnerable to being withdrawn from circulation, melted, and converted into the Hellenistic coinage required by the new monetary order.
Against this extraordinary historical backdrop, the survival of an Achaemenid Double Daric in its original form is remarkable, especially in this condition.
This specimen may therefore be viewed as a survivor of the great monetary transformation that accompanied Alexander's conquest of the Achaemenid Empire — a coin that, rather than disappearing into the melting pot of antiquity, survived to the present day.
A coin of exceptional rarity
The Double Daric is among the great rarities of Achaemenid gold coinage. Its scarcity stands in stark contrast to the comparatively familiar single Daric, which is encountered with considerably greater frequency.
For comparison, a 16.55 g Double Daric catalogued from Roma Numismatics Auction XXII, Lot 416 (2021) achieved GBP 38,000 plus buyer's premium, demonstrating the extraordinary level of interest and value attached to these exceedingly rare gold denominations.
Attribution
The precise attribution of the Achaemenid Double Daric remains a matter of scholarly debate. Unlike many later Hellenistic issues, these coins do not always provide an unequivocal ruler's name or inscription allowing an indisputable attribution.
The principal candidates proposed for this series include:
Darius I the Great (522–486 BC)
Xerxes I (486–465 BC)
Artaxerxes I (465–424 BC)
On stylistic and numismatic grounds, the present specimen is considered highly likely to belong to the reign of Darius I, although, as with the series generally, the attribution cannot be regarded as absolutely certain.
A remarkable survivor
With its imposing 16.54 g weight, traditional Achaemenid royal imagery, and extreme rarity, this Double Daric represents far more than an ancient gold coin.
It is a tangible survivor from the final centuries of the Achaemenid Empire, a period in which enormous quantities of treasure were gathered into the royal treasury, subsequently seized by Alexander, and transformed into the monetary foundation of the Hellenistic world.
An exceptionally rare Achaemenid Double Daric — a true unicorn of the ancient numismatic world.
Shipping is available exclusively to European Union (EU) member states ONLY - no exceptions whatsoever.
If you are bidding from outside the EU, free personal collection is available in the city of Wrocław, Poland.
------------------------------------
Shipping Notice:
Shipping costs include full insurance. As insurance premiums are based on the declared value of the item, shipping rates may be higher for more valuable objects to ensure comprehensive coverage during transit.
By placing a bid on this lot, you acknowledge and accept these shipping terms.
EXCEPTIONALLY RARE ACHAEMENID DOUBLE DARIC
A Unicorn of the Ancient Numismatic World
Gold Double Daric — 16.54 g
Scale reading: 16.6 g
Obverse: Royal figure
Reverse: Incuse punch
An exceptionally rare and historically evocative Achaemenid Double Daric, weighing an exact 16.54 grams — approximately twice the weight of the celebrated Achaemenid Daric.
This is NOT to be confused with the far more commonly encountered single Daric, which typically weighs approximately 8.4 grams. The present specimen belongs to an altogether different and extraordinarily rare denomination.
The Achaemenid Daric became one of the great gold currencies of the ancient Near East. Following the conquest of the Achaemenid Empire by Alexander III of Macedon (“Alexander the Great”), the vast Achaemenid royal treasuries were absorbed into the rapidly expanding Hellenistic monetary system. The standard gold stater of the Hellenistic world weighed approximately 8.5 grams, making the traditional Achaemenid Daric, at around 8.4 grams, broadly compatible with the prevailing gold-stater standard and therefore the regular Daric remained in circulation.
The Double Daric, however, presented an entirely different proposition. At approximately 16.5 grams, it represented two Daric weight units struck as a single piece, without a direct and widely established Hellenistic equivalent. Such large gold denominations were therefore particularly vulnerable to being withdrawn from circulation, melted, and converted into the Hellenistic coinage required by the new monetary order.
Against this extraordinary historical backdrop, the survival of an Achaemenid Double Daric in its original form is remarkable, especially in this condition.
This specimen may therefore be viewed as a survivor of the great monetary transformation that accompanied Alexander's conquest of the Achaemenid Empire — a coin that, rather than disappearing into the melting pot of antiquity, survived to the present day.
A coin of exceptional rarity
The Double Daric is among the great rarities of Achaemenid gold coinage. Its scarcity stands in stark contrast to the comparatively familiar single Daric, which is encountered with considerably greater frequency.
For comparison, a 16.55 g Double Daric catalogued from Roma Numismatics Auction XXII, Lot 416 (2021) achieved GBP 38,000 plus buyer's premium, demonstrating the extraordinary level of interest and value attached to these exceedingly rare gold denominations.
Attribution
The precise attribution of the Achaemenid Double Daric remains a matter of scholarly debate. Unlike many later Hellenistic issues, these coins do not always provide an unequivocal ruler's name or inscription allowing an indisputable attribution.
The principal candidates proposed for this series include:
Darius I the Great (522–486 BC)
Xerxes I (486–465 BC)
Artaxerxes I (465–424 BC)
On stylistic and numismatic grounds, the present specimen is considered highly likely to belong to the reign of Darius I, although, as with the series generally, the attribution cannot be regarded as absolutely certain.
A remarkable survivor
With its imposing 16.54 g weight, traditional Achaemenid royal imagery, and extreme rarity, this Double Daric represents far more than an ancient gold coin.
It is a tangible survivor from the final centuries of the Achaemenid Empire, a period in which enormous quantities of treasure were gathered into the royal treasury, subsequently seized by Alexander, and transformed into the monetary foundation of the Hellenistic world.
An exceptionally rare Achaemenid Double Daric — a true unicorn of the ancient numismatic world.
Shipping is available exclusively to European Union (EU) member states ONLY - no exceptions whatsoever.
If you are bidding from outside the EU, free personal collection is available in the city of Wrocław, Poland.
------------------------------------
Shipping Notice:
Shipping costs include full insurance. As insurance premiums are based on the declared value of the item, shipping rates may be higher for more valuable objects to ensure comprehensive coverage during transit.
By placing a bid on this lot, you acknowledge and accept these shipping terms.
Details
Era
Before 1400
Culture/region
Achaemenid Kingdom
Denomination
Double Daric
Metal
AV
Condition
Ungraded
Weight
16.54 g
Number of objects
1
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The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
