Siglos - Darios I

The siglos was the Achaemenid silver unit within a bimetallic system paired against the gold daric, with the exchange rate fixed at 20 sigloi to one daric. Darius I standardized this coinage following his administrative reforms of the late 6th century BC, part of a broader overhaul that also reorganized the empire into satrapies with fixed tribute obligations — tribute that was itself often rendered in these coins.

Dies were hand-cut and punched individually, producing the characteristic irregular flans and incuse reverse punch marks that distinguish early Achaemenid silver from later, more mechanically consistent issues.