PERSIA, Alexandrine Empire. Uncertain satraps of Babylon, circa 328-311 BC. Double Daric (Gold, 19 mm, 16.70 g, 12 h), Babylon. Persian king or hero, wearing kidaris and kandys, quiver over shoulder, in kneeling/running stance to right, holding spear in his right hand and bow in his left; in field to left, ΛY; in field to right, M. Rev. Patterned rectangular incuse punch. Classical Numismatic Group 111 (2019), 407. Nicolet-Pierre 1. SNG Berry 1455. Very rare and unusually well struck for the issue. Struck from slightly worn dies and with minor deposit on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.


This double daric was struck at Babylon in the late fourth century BC, after the collapse of the Achaemenid Empire, but retains the traditional Persian royal archer type and its weight standard. The Greek control marks ΛY and M are particularly significant, since the same control system occurs on contemporary Babylonian issues in the names of Alexander III and Philip III. They therefore connect this deliberately Achaemenid-looking gold coin directly with the post-conquest organization of the Babylonian mint.

Double darics were produced alongside Alexandrine coinage rather than being displaced by it, indicating the continued use of a distinct Persian-derived monetary standard for certain payments or circulation networks. Their issue should thus not be understood as a survival of Achaemenid political authority, but as the deliberate continuation of a familiar and established monetary convention under Macedonian and Successor administration.