Silver Alloy Stater

This stater (19A03) was minted in Sardis, Lydia in the 6th century BCE. The obverse depicts the confronted foreparts of a lion and a bull. The reverse depicts two incuse squares. Many of these coins were minted with detailed and intricate designs such as lions and bulls, symbolizing strength and expressing the power of the Lydian kingdom. The coins were crafted with high precision and were very high in quality, featuring many different types apart from just animals hammered into the metal.

King Croesus, who ruled Lydia from about 561 to 546 BCE, is known for creating the first metallic coinage currency from Electrum, a mixture of gold and silver, though other coins were also made from gold or silver alloys. The introduction of coinage by the Kingdom of Lydia revolutionized economic transactions, facilitating trade and commerce on a large scale. Using these standardised coins promoted economic stability and encouraged the growth of many urban centers within the kingdom, which then spread outside into neighbouring states.