Persis Silver Hemidrachm – Ancient Persia (c. 1st Century BCE–1st Century CE) – NGC Certified

Own a certified silver hemidrachm from Persis, the heartland of ancient Persia, authenticated and slabbed by NGC. Struck between the 1st century BCE and the 1st century CE, this coin represents a unique blend of local autonomy and imperial tradition within the post-Achaemenid and early Parthian world.

Located in what is now southwestern Iran, Persis was the ancestral homeland of the Achaemenid dynasty. Even after the fall of the First Persian Empire and the conquests of Alexander the Great, local Persian dynasts continued to rule the region semi-independently under Seleucid and later Parthian suzerainty. These rulers proudly maintained Persian religious customs, language, and iconography while adapting Hellenistic coinage standards.

The obverse of the Persis silver hemidrachm typically features the portrait of a local Persian king, often crowned and shown in profile, continuing the tradition of royal portraiture seen in both Achaemenid reliefs and Hellenistic coinage. The reverse usually depicts a Zoroastrian fire altar, a sacred symbol of divine legitimacy and continuity with the ancient faith of Persia.

These hemidrachms are especially valued for their distinct cultural synthesis — retaining Persian identity while acknowledging broader Hellenistic and Parthian influences. Their artistry is compact yet powerful, embodying both regional pride and political resilience.

Certified by NGC, this Persis silver hemidrachm is a beautiful and rare artifact from a proud province that stood at the crossroads of empires — where ancient Persian tradition endured through silver and flame.