Persis Silver Hemidrachm — The Heartland of Ancient Persia

Own a Coin from the Heartland of Ancient Persia

A real silver hemidrachm of Persis—struck by the Persian rulers who preserved their culture, religion, and identity between the fall of the Achaemenid Empire and the rise of the mighty Sasanian Empire.

✓ Guaranteed Authentic
✓ Display Album Included
✓ 30-Day Returns

📷 Coins shown are representative examples. You will receive one authentic silver hemidrachm of Persis. Each coin is unique and will vary in strike, centering, preservation, toning, and individual appearance.

🔥 Features the sacred Fire Altar, one of the enduring symbols of Zoroastrianism
👑 Issued by the Persian rulers of Persis, homeland of Cyrus the Great and the ancient Persian kings
🤲 A real piece of ancient history from the 3rd Century BC to the 3rd Century AD

Own This Piece of History

Why This Coin Matters

When Alexander the Great conquered the Achaemenid Persian Empire in 330 BC, many believed the age of the Persian kings had come to an end.

It had not.

In the province of Persis—modern Fars in southern Iran—the homeland of Cyrus the Great, Darius I, and Persepolis itself, local Persian rulers continued to preserve their traditions, language, religion, and identity while living under the authority of first the Seleucid and later the Parthian Empires.

This authentic silver hemidrachm was struck by one of those rulers.

The obverse typically portrays a Persian king wearing an elaborate crown inspired by earlier royal traditions, emphasizing continuity with Persia's imperial past. The reverse features the sacred Fire Altar, one of the most important symbols of Zoroastrianism, the ancient religion of Persia. For Zoroastrians, the eternal flame represented purity, truth, divine wisdom, and the sacred order established by Ahura Mazda. Its appearance on these coins proclaimed that Persian religious and cultural traditions remained alive despite centuries of foreign domination.

These silver coins circulated throughout Persis for generations, passing through the hands of merchants, farmers, priests, and local officials while preserving a distinctly Persian identity in the heartland of the ancient empire.

Their story eventually led to one of history's great revivals.

In AD 224, a ruler from Persis named Ardashir I overthrew the Parthian Empire and founded the Sasanian Empire, restoring Persian imperial rule and creating the last great empire of pre-Islamic Iran. The traditions preserved by the rulers of Persis became the foundation upon which the Sasanians rebuilt Persian power.

More than eighteen centuries later, this silver coin remains a tangible connection to the homeland that kept Persian civilization alive between two great empires.

Perfect For

• Collectors of Persian and Iranian coinage
• History lovers fascinated by ancient Persia and the Near East
• Collectors interested in Zoroastrianism and Persian religion
• First-time ancient silver collectors
• Anyone looking for a meaningful and historically significant gift

What You'll Receive

• One authentic silver hemidrachm of Persis
• Civilization: Kingdom of Persis
• Period: Persid Kings (approximately 223 BC–AD 224)
• Century: 3rd Century BC to 3rd Century AD
• Denomination: AR Hemidrachm
• Features the portrait of a Persian ruler and the sacred Fire Altar
• Presented in a display album
• Guaranteed authentic
• Representative example of the type (each coin is unique)

Continue the Story

The rulers of Persis preserved the traditions of ancient Persia through centuries of foreign rule, safeguarding the culture that would later give rise to the Sasanian Empire. Their coinage bridges the world of the Achaemenids and the last great Persian empire, preserving one of history's longest and most influential civilizations.

Explore our other Greek, Roman, Biblical, Byzantine, and medieval collections to continue your journey through the rulers, civilizations, and events that changed history.

Buy with Confidence

• Guaranteed authentic ancient coin
• Carefully sourced and verified
• 30-day return policy
• Secure shipping from the U.S.

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