Mint of Sardis

c. 650 BC/BCE to 268 CE

The city of Sardis is considered the place where modern currency was invented.  Under Persian and Lydian rule Sardis started producing coins out of Electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver, by 650 BCE.  By 560 BCE Sardis had perfected a way to separate the gold and silver and started issuing coins of pure gold.  The production of coins continued under the Greek and Roman rulers.  However, after the first century AD, it appears that only bronze was used.  The last coins were produced during the reign of the Roman emperor Gallienus (253-268).

Subject ID: 127318

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c. 650 BC/BCE to 268 CE

The city of Sardis is considered the place where modern currency was invented.  Under Persian and Lydian rule Sardis started producing coins out of Electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver, by 650 BCE.  By 560 BCE Sardis had perfected a way to separate the gold and silver and started issuing coins of pure gold.  The production of coins continued under the Greek and Roman rulers.  However, after the first century AD, it appears that only bronze was used.  The last coins were produced during the reign of the Roman emperor Gallienus (253-268).

Subject ID: 127318

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