Drachm of Darev II of Persis, ca. 1st century BCE
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1st century BCE
Issuing entity
Kingdom of PersisThis silver drachm was struck during the first century B.C. by Darev II, a client king of Persis who was known in Greek as Darius. The obverse presents a left-facing portrait of the monarch, distinguished by a long beard, a large nose, and a torque or necklace. He is shown wearing a domed tiara with earflaps, adorned with three semicircles of dots framing a crescent, secured by a diadem headband tied around it.
The reverse depicts an individual turned toward the left before a ritual altar from which a circular flame rises. This person holds a long, slender object that is widely identified as a barsom, a tool used in Zoroastrian rites. Encircling this composition is a legend written in Persian identifying Darev and referencing his royal lineage.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Persis, situated in southwestern Iran, served as the central territory of the former Achaemenid Empire. During the Seleucid and Parthian eras, local client monarchs like Darev II ruled the province and synthesized artistic motifs from Achaemenid, Seleucid, and Parthian traditions on their coinage. The royal diadem reflects Greek Seleucid influence, while the prominent fire altar indicates that Persis rulers actively championed Zoroastrian religious rites. Uncovered at Qasr-i Abu Nasr near Shiraz, this piece offers rare evidence of occupation at the site during the Parthian period, where excavated remains are predominantly Sasanian.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Silver
- Museum specimens
- The Met 36.30.300: 1/8 in. × 11/16 in. diameter (0.3 × 1.75 cm)
Design
- Obverse
- A bust of the king facing left, with a large nose, a long beard, and a torque or necklace. He wears a domed tiara with earflaps decorated with three semicircles of dots around a crescent, tied with a diadem.
- Reverse
- A figure facing left standing before an altar topped with a round flame, holding a long, thin object usually interpreted as a Zoroastrian barsom, surrounded by a Persian inscription.
- Inscription (as read by the museum)
- King Darev, son of King Vadfradad
Identification
- Issuing state
- Kingdom of Persis
- Museum accession numbers
- 36.30.300
- Issuer (museum attribution)
- Darev II
- Reign as given by the museum
- ca. 1st century BCE
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research Required: no specialist corpus type number is recorded here; confirm the type, die variety and mint against a published corpus of Kingdom of Persis coinage before citing one.