The DaricThe Daric was the first gold coin to be minted in Persia at a time when the Persian Empire was the most powerful on the face of the planet. This Achaemenid gold coin (minted over 2500 years ago and weighing approximately 8.4 grams) is still the basis for the weight of 1 gold coin (known as the Sekkeh) used and minted in present day Iran with approximately the same weight (8.1 grams).Darius created the Daric; an idea created after the Achaemenids had conquered Lydia and learned of their currency, minting, and taxation. Darius implemented the same system throughout his empire with his image embedded within the gold coin and circulated the coins extensively throughout the civilized world(he also had silver coins with the same image, called Sigloids, with a currency exchange rate of 1:20) . |