Record #00307Economy archive
Earliest Known Struck Metal Coins
Some of the earliest surviving struck coins with weight standards and impressed designs emerged in Lydia and neighbouring Ionia in the late seventh century BCE, made mainly of electrum.
ARCHIVE VISUAL / 01
NOT TO SCALE
Current Record
c.650–600 BCE
Current record value
- Location
- Ancient Lydia and Ionia (modern western Turkey) · Ancient Lydia region · Türkiye
- Start date
- —
- Record status
- VerifiedReport an issue
Verification basis and limitations
VerifiedThe record conclusion has sufficient verification support.
Verification explanation pending
- Last editorial review
- 2026-11-04
Current Entry identifies the current entry in this archive; it does not establish that the record is still held today.
Overview
Archive NoteEarly electrum coins in the British Museum have irregular shapes, impressed designs such as a lion's head and reverse punch marks. Metal blanks were struck between a die and a punch.
Such pieces are attributed to Lydia and Ionia, but many are uninscribed and cannot confidently be assigned to a single minting authority. Ancient China also developed separate traditions of metal money, so the topic is restricted to this type of stamped coin.
Record history
1 Milestones- c. 650–600 BCEEarly Lydian–Ionian electrum struck coinageAncient Lydia and Ionia (modern western Turkey)Current Record
Sources
Evidence & ReferencesThe record value on this page is organized from the public sources above. Measurement methods may differ; JiLuDB follows the unified method described for each entry.
Public feedbackFound a data issue?If a fact has changed, the data is incorrect, or you know a more authoritative source, submit feedback.Submit feedback
Help keep the archive accurate
If a fact has changed, a value is incorrect, or you know a more authoritative source, leave a note. Feedback enters an administrator review workflow and never edits a record directly.