Figure 107

© Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. (CNG).
(Photographs courtesy of www.cngcoins.com)

A Lydian one-third stater (“standard”) electrum coin from Sardis minted by King Alyattes (610–565 BC). Obv.: The head of a roaring lion with a rising sun with multiple rays on his forehead in the background. Electrum continued to be the only metal used in coinage until the process of refining gold and silver was perfected. Rev.: Double incuse punch (maximum dimension 13 mm. and 4.71 gm; BMC Lydia pg. 2, 6; SNG Kayhan 1013).