Obverse: Ram standing left, tunny fish
below (only partly visible).
Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square.
Numismatists believe that the first coins
were made of electrum, a naturally
occurring alloy (mostly gold and silver with
traces of other metals). The earliest coins
are associated with the Kingdom of Lydia
and the Greek cities of Ionia, minted c. 650
B.C. By c. 550 BC gold and silver had largely
replaced electrum as a material for coinage
because the latter was of uncertain value.
Despite this it continued to circulate and the
principle source was Kyzikos, a colony of
Miletos in Mysia. The tunny fish which
appears on this example is believed to
represent the city of Kyzikos. This is an
exceptionally rare and early form of
currency.
Condition: Ragged flan, good-very fine, rare.
