★ PERSIC STANDARD ★

CARIA.Mylasa. (Circa 520-490 BC).Hemihekte.

Obv : Forepart of lion left.

Rev : Incuse square.
Cf. SNG Kayhan 931 (hekte)

Condition : Good very fine.

Material : Silver.
Axis :

Weight : 0.85 gr
Diameter : 8 mm

The Persian standard, also known as the Persic standard, was a weight system used in ancient coinage, particularly in the regions under the influence of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. In the context of Caria, an ancient region in southwestern Anatolia, many of the coins minted followed this standard due to Persian dominance in the area during the 6th to 4th centuries BCE.

The Persic standard was based on the silver siglos (or shekel), which weighed approximately 5.5 grams. The Persian Empire, under rulers like Darius I, introduced the standard to unify and regulate the vast territories they controlled, which included regions like Caria. The system was especially important for commerce and taxation, as it facilitated trade and transactions across diverse regions that fell under Persian influence.

Caria, which was semi-autonomous under Persian rule, adopted this weight standard for many of its coins. The cities in Caria, such as Halicarnassus and Mylasa, produced silver coins that adhered to the Persic standard to align with the economic practices of the empire. These coins often featured local symbols, such as the lion or other regional deities, but their weight and intrinsic value were regulated by Persian norms. This allowed Carian coins to be widely accepted in the Persian Empire and beyond, ensuring economic stability and integration with the broader imperial economy.

The use of the Persian standard also reflects the complex political and economic relationships between Caria and the Persian Empire. While the region retained some local autonomy, especially under rulers like the Hecatomnids, the adherence to the Persian weight system showed their submission to Persian economic control. This was a practical necessity, as the vast Persian Empire facilitated trade across a wide area, and the use of a unified weight system made exchanges easier and more efficient.

Even after the decline of the Persian Empire, the influence of the Persic standard persisted in many regions, including Caria, until local and Hellenistic standards became more dominant with the rise of Macedonian power under Alexander the Great. However, the adoption of the Persian standard by Carian cities is a testament to the interconnectedness of the ancient economies and the wide-reaching influence of Persian imperial policies on coinage and commerce.