What does Persian coinage tell us about Achaemenid society?

With the Persian conquest of western Asia Minor, specifically the Kingdom of Lydia, the Persians were first exposed to coinage. The use of coinage in trade and government payment of conscripts and mercenaries increased over the period of the Achaemenids, particularly in the western half of the empire. This source-based homework task presents students with a range of visual and written sources in order to explain how Persian coinage informs us of Achaemenid society. The task is designed for students of the NSW Ancient History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum

Higher School Certificate Course
Historical Periods
Option D: Persia - Cyrus II to the death of Darius III

It can also be used in:
Historical Societies
Option D: Persia in the time of Darius II and Xerxes