Object Description
Ca. 561-546 BC
Kingdom of Lydia, Kroisos Ar. 1/3 stater. Confronted foreparts of lion to right and bull to left. Rev. Two irregular incuse squares. GRPC Lydia S5; SNG Keckman 359; Boston MFA 2071; Warren 1291. Near Extremely Fine; a superb example.
The numismatic issues of Lydia were the first coins to be identified with a minting authority. The design featured on this 1/3 stater is characteristic of Lydian coin iconography and continued into the late 6th Century BC, until the kingdom was conquered by the Achaemenids in 546 BC.
The invention of bimetallism, a monetary system involving the circulation of gold and silver coins, has been associated with the reign of King Kroisos of Lydia. This deviated from the previous employment of electrum coinage, which was still widely used in Asia Minor well after Kroisos’ downfall.
For additional information see:
Metcalf, W. E., 2016, The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage. Oxford University Press.
Size: D: 13mm ; 3.44g