Croesus of Lydia gave the world the phrase rich as Croesus, and his mint at Sardis struck the first coinage issued in both pure gold and pure silver. This tiny silver 1/24 stater comes from the smallest end of that reform, weighing only 0.38 gram. Croesus reigned from 561 to 546 BC, when Cyrus the Great of Persia ended the Lydian kingdom, so the window for these coins was brief. Small fractions like this were easily lost or damaged in ancient commerce, and clean survivors are hard to locate today.

The obverse shows the confronting foreparts of a lion and a bull, the royal Lydian type used across the silver and gold denominations. The lion's mane and open jaw stand out boldly, while the bull's horn and shoulder keep clear relief on a very compact flan. The reverse carries an incuse punch instead of a design, the simple mark that finished these early issues. Both sides show strong device definition for the denomination, with even gray surfaces and an appealing patina.

NGC graded this fraction Choice Very Fine with a perfect Strike of 5 and a Surface of 4. That combination is notable at this size, since a full 5 for strike means both animals came up complete and centered on the die. The metal is smooth and problem free, with no roughness or cracks that often trouble coins struck on flans this thin. For those seeking a well-struck example of the first silver coinage of Lydia, this piece delivers. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.

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