daric Summary and Overview

in the Revised Version of 1 Chr. 29:7; Ezra 2:69; 8:27; Neh. 7:70-72, where the Authorized Version has "dram." It is the rendering of the Hebrew darkemon and the Greek dareikos. It was a gold coin, bearing the figure of a Persian King with his crown and armed with bow and arrow. It was current among the Jews after their return from Babylon, i.e., while under the Persian domination. It weighed about 128 grains troy, and was of the value of about one guinea or rather more of our money. It is the first coin mentioned in Scripture, and is the oldest that history makes known to us.

(from dara, a king), Authorized Version "dram," #1Ch 29:7; Ezr 2:69; 8:27; Ne 7:70,71,72| a gold coin current in Israel in the period after the return from Babylon. It weighed 128 grains, and was worth about five dollars. At these times there was no large issue of gold money except by the Persian kings. The darics which have been discovered are thick pieces of pure hold, of archaic style, bearing on the obverse the figure of a king with bow and javelin or bow and dagger, and on the reverse an irregular incuse square. The silver daric was worth about fifty cents.

DAR'IC , the name of a Persian gold coin, which is translated "dram" in 1 Chr 29:7; Ezr 2:69; Ezr 8:27; Neh 7:70-72. The name comes from the Persian word dara, "a king." like the English sovereign. It was the common gold-piece of the Persian empire. It was current in Palestine under Cyrus, and Artaxerxes Longimanus. It weighed about 128 grains Troy, and was worth about five dollars. Besides the gold there was a silver daric, worth about fifty cents. There is no mention of this latter coin in the Bible. See Measures.

A gold coin current in Israel after the return from Babylon. The Persian kings issued it; the obverse having the king with bow and javelin or dagger, the reverse a square; 128 grains troy. Ezra 2:69; Ezra 8:27; Nehemiah 7:70-72; 1 Chronicles 29:7, "drams" KJV. Derived from Darius the Mede, or else dara, "a king", the regal coin (compare our "crown".) The Greek drachma, our dram, is related.