Lydian Silver Stater of King Croesus

This is one of the world's earliest known coins. The lion on the front is the symbol of the Lydian royal family of king Croesus. The stamped squares on the reverse are a guarantee of the coin's value, since they prove that it consists of pure silver.

The very first Lydian coins were made of electrum, a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver. However, the Lydians began watering down the gold content of their coins by adding additional silver, which made the coins increasingly suspect in the eyes of traders and investors. It is thought that Croesus was the first king to introduce coins made of pure gold and pure silver to restore the credibility of Lydian coins.

This coin was discovered in the Persepolis Treasury in Persia, probably having been brought there by the Persian king Cyrus the Great, who conquered Croesus in 546 BC. On the obverse is the forepart of a lion on the right and bull on the left, facing one another. On the reverse are two incuse squares, side by side.