| Heritage World Coin Auctions > NYINC Signature Sale 3113 | Auction date: 8 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 31029 Price realized: 80,000 USD (Approx. 72,928 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Ancients LYDIAN KINGDOM. Croesus (561-546 BC). AV stater (17mm, 10.79 gm). NGC MS★ 5/5 - 5/5. Croeseid "heavy" standard, Sardes, ca. 561-550 BC. Confronted foreparts of lion right and bull left, both with outstretched foreleg / Two incuse square punches of unequal size, side by side, with irregular interior surfaces. Rosen 660. BMC Lydia 30. Boston MFA 2068. Gulbenkian 756. A magnificent coin, boldly struck on a flan adorned with sunny and amber tones, that radiates an elegant, silky luster. The meticulous craftsmanship shines through, making it a treasured piece with a warm, captivating allure. From The Bob Klein History of Money Collection. Ex Heritage Auctions, Auction 3066 (17 August 2018), lot 30056. This series can justifiably be termed the "world's first major gold coinage." While the Lydian kingdom and several Greek city states of Asia Minor had previously struck coins in electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver, the accession of Croesus to the Lydian throne circa 561 BC ushered in a revolution in the world economy. The most important reform attributed to Croesus was the introduction of a bimetallic coinage in gold and silver, first augmenting and then replacing the previous electrum issues. The lion had previously been used by Alyattes, and one theory is that this is a dynastic type, with the lion representing Alyattes, and the bull representing his son and successor. The creation of separate gold and silver denominations ranging from a full stater down to 1/96th of a stater was a visionary move that had a major impact on the ancient economy. Gold staters were initially minted by Croesus on a "heavy" standard of about 10.7 grams, the same weight as the new silver stater denomination, although, since silver is a lighter metal, the gold issues were smaller in size and much more valuable. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-lydian-kingdom-croesus-561-546-bc-av-stater-17mm-1079-gm-ngc-msand-9733-5-5-5-5/a/3113-31029.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3113-01082024 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 100000-150000 USD |  |
