The daric was introduced by Darius I (522-486 BCE) toward the end of the sixth century B.C.E. "The daric's origins can be traced to the Persian conquest of the kingdom of Lydia in Asia Minor by Cyrus the Great in around 550. Lydia had been the first ancient state to introduce the practice of minting coinage." Darius had began creating Persian money in the previous Lydian capital, Sardis. He was the first Achaemenid emperor to order the striking of the new gold coin with the image of the royal archer, though these were not the first coins to be struck at the Achaemenid imperial mint.
The daric became extremely popular in the ancient world, especially in the Mediterranean Basin. It was widely used and well-known for its remarkable purity in gold. The ancient Greeks believed that the term dareikós came from the name of Darius the Great. Researchers today think the Greek term came from the Old Persian dari- meaning "golden." The Greeks popularly named the coin toxoótai, "archer" after the image that appears on the coin. "The coin's iconography emphasizes the importance of the king as a warrior and leader for the Persians." The coin was used (aside from its monetary value) to assert the "Great King's" authority and power.
Works Cited
Information: Alram, Michael. "Daric." Encyclopaedia Iranica. Encyclopaedia Iranica, 2014.
Web. 10 Oct., 2014.
Truty, Andrew. "Persian Daric." Spurlock Museum. University of Illinois Board of Trustees,
2001-2014. Web. 10 Oct., 2014.
Picture: http://www.spurlock.illinois.edu/collections/artifact/daric.html
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