Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Darius

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

DARI'US or DARI'CUS (δαρεικός). A gold coin of Persian currency (Auson. Epist. v. 23.), which bore the impress of a man kneeling, with a bow and arrows. It contained about 123.7 grains of pure gold, and consequently was equal in value to 1l 1s. 10d. of our money. (Hussey, Ancient Weights, &c. vii. 3.) The example (Darius/1.1) is from a specimen in the British Museum, and of the actual size; but the reverse is quite unintelligible. The silver coins which bear the same figure of a kneeling archer, and go by the same name in modern numismatics, were not, however, so called in ancient times.

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  Darius/1.1