The beautiful Electrum staters of the ancient world..Better than gold..

Some of the oldest coins in history.

Mysia, Kyzikos. Electrum stater. Lion facing left and Tunny fish behind. Circa 550-450BC. 20mm. 16.16g. VF. Rare.

A chunky and heavy solid full stater of electrum (a natural occurring alloy of gold and silver), these were one of the oldest coins in existence ( preceded by the Ionian and Lydian coins). Apart from the maneless lion, other classical depictions were also known from the Mysian coinage ranging from sphinxes to humans. I personally find these electrum more interesting than pure gold itself as it gives the coin an archaic and pale gold lustre. Whilst lower denominations like trites, hektes etc were reasonably available, heavy full staters are rare...

Forming the largest denomination in the ancient classical world, the staters form the standard of which smaller denominations are based off. It is likely that these staters form a large value payments. Whilst the weight age may be consistent, the alloy mix are widely inconsistent. For a metal to be electrum, they must contain at least 30% silver or more. The higher the silver content, the paler the color.

Naturally given the inconsistency of the alloys, they were soon replaced by purer silver or gold coins starting by the coinage reforms of Croesus of Lydia. Nonetheless we still see pockets in history right up to modern Tokugawa early Meiji period in Japan where electrum was adopted as a form of debased monetary equivalent.