⏰ when

When were the first coins made?

moneyancient history

Quick Answer

The first known coins were made in the kingdom of Lydia, in what is now western Turkey, around the 7th century BCE.

The Full Story

Lydian coins were made from electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver found in local rivers, and stamped with symbols such as a lion's head. They are commonly dated to around 630 to 600 BCE. Stamping guaranteed a coin's weight and value, making trade far simpler than weighing metal. Around the same time, coin-like objects emerged independently in China and India. King Croesus of Lydia, famous for his wealth, is credited with introducing the first pure gold and silver coins in the 6th century BCE.

Key Facts

1.The first coins came from Lydia, around 630–600 BCE
2.They were made of electrum, a gold-silver alloy
3.King Croesus introduced pure gold and silver coins

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"The ancient kingdom that invented coins"