The Earliest Coins from Lydia

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Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
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published on 31 October 2016
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These are some of the earliest coins in the World. Made from electrum, a naturally occurring mixture of gold and silver, they were issued in Lydia. Although irregular in size and shape, these early coins were produced according to a strict weight standard. They had a design on one side, and the other side was marked with certain punches. The lion's head seems to have been a royal symbol, so we assume that the coins were authorized by the kings of Lydia. Electrum coins, about 650 BCE. From Lydia, modern-day Turkey. (The British Museum, London).

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About the Author

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.

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APA Style

Amin, O. S. M. (2016, October 31). The Earliest Coins from Lydia. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5877/the-earliest-coins-from-lydia/

Chicago Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "The Earliest Coins from Lydia." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified October 31, 2016. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5877/the-earliest-coins-from-lydia/.

MLA Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "The Earliest Coins from Lydia." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 31 Oct 2016. Web. 08 Mar 2025.

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