Just picked this up from Leu Auction. EL Hemihekte (1/12 Stater) ND struck 550BC Kyzikos Mint Mysia/ Kyzikos (Greek City State in Asia Minor) 2 known
Forgive me if this is common knowledge as I know little of the coinage of the Greeks but this is electrum?
Yes "EL" = electrum (natural deposits where found by rivers) Electrum was usually 50/50 gold/silver content. The first coinage originated in Asia Minor (Modern day Turkey) Lydians began striking EL coinage circa 670 BC. The electrum was found along river banks back then. Around same time/ Ionians began making coinage in Kyzikos/ Miletus/ Samos/ Phokia/ Lesbos. John
Yes, I thought it was this region. I knew it was approx 50/50 but I am also curious if they were seperated from one another. I might have to go down a google wormhole.
ALL electrum coins were reconstructed from gold and silver. The very first coins in the world, at Lydia, were reconstructed even though electrum exists in nearby streams. It was determined by excavations of the Lydian mint that ancients could purify silver and gold to very high levels, so they knew what they were doing. I found it fascinating how the very first coins were "standardized" at a silver to gold relationship much lower in gold than what was found naturally. Even the first coiners in the world were stealing from the public! Edit, btw a terrific example. Well struck and a fresh die!
