A truly exceptional and historically significant gold coin, the Type IV Persian Daric, also known as the “Hero/King”, represents the pinnacle of Achaemenid gold coinage. Introduced around 455 BC, it is exceedingly rare—more so than the previously believed Type II.
Type: IV Daric – Hero/King
Date: c. 455 BC
Origin: Persian Empire
Material: Gold
Condition: Varies (please inquire for specifics)
Certification: NGC reports only 11 certified examples in all grades
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🏛 Coin Design
Obverse: King in a kneeling-running stance, holding a dagger in his left hand and a bow in his extended right hand
Reverse: Incuse punch
Stylistic Sub-Issues: Type IV is subdivided into A, B, and C styles—all extremely rare
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🏛 Historical Significance
The gold Daric was the premier international currency of the ancient world, prized for ease of exchange and accumulation of wealth
Minted continuously from 520–330 BC, Persian Darics were widely used across the Near East and beyond
Alexander the Great melted Darics after defeating Persia to create new coinage for the former empire, making surviving pieces even more precious
Type IV Darics are 350× rarer than Type III, making this coin a true collector’s crown jewel
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📊 Rarity & Value
Extremely rare with only 11 known certified examples
Few private collections in the US contain a Type IV Daric
A historically and numismatically irreplaceable piece of Persian gold coinage