Lot 54: Achaemenid Kingdom. Artaxerxes II to Artaxerxes III. Ca. 375-340 B.C. AR siglos.

Achaemenid Kingdom. Artaxerxes II to Artaxerxes III. Ca. 375-340 B.C. AR siglos (14 mm, 5.19 g). Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, holding dagger and bow; pellets in chest drapery / Rectangular incuse punch. Carradice type IV, C. Greek graffiti on reverse. Nicely toned. Very fine. 

Achaemenid sigloi were struck only for use in the Greek cities of Asia Minor and also to pay mercenaries in the employ of the Great King's armies. They were not used in other areas of the Persian Empire. This coin is particularly interesting as it has had lettering engraved on the reverse face outside of the rectangular incuse. As we should expect, the engraving is in Greek, and it reads ΠΑΡ. Although we cannot be certain, it seems probably that these letters are the first letters of the name of the engraver, who at the time likely did not realize that he would be immortalizing himself to coin collectors twenty-three and a half centuries later.

• Offered By: Barry P. Murphy
• Lot #: 54
• Listing #: 232955
• Closed: Thursday, July 10, 2014 5:17:40 PM CT
• Estimate: $100