Siglos
/ˈsɪɡlɒs/noun
An ancient Persian silver coin, generally valued at one-twentieth of a daric.
Did you know?The Greek word siglos is commonly connected with Hebrew shekel, a unit whose name originally referred to measured weight before becoming a currency term.
Etymological Timeline
1st millennium BCE
Old Persian
𐎰𐎼𐎣𐎼 (šekel)
“A weight or weighed monetary unit; the exact connection with siglos is debated.”
Ancient Hebrew
Hebrew
שֶׁקֶל (šeqel)
“A standard weight, later also a unit of currency.”
Classical Greek
Greek
σίγλος (siglos)
“A Persian silver coin, probably borrowed through an eastern currency term.”
Ancient Persian Empire
Old Persian
𐎼𐎥𐏂 (siglos)
“A silver denomination used in the Achaemenid monetary system.”
16th–17th Century
English
siglos
“A term used by antiquarians and numismatists for an ancient Persian coin.”
Modern English
English
siglos
“The standard English plural or unchanged plural form referring to ancient Persian silver coins.”