561-546 BC Lydia Croesus Silver Twelfth-Stater NGC Extremely Fine

This silver twelfth-stater was struck during the reign of Croesus, the last king of Lydia, whose name became synonymous with fabulous wealth in the ancient world. Minted between 561 and 546 BC at Sardis, the Lydian capital, this fractional denomination represents one of humanity's earliest standardized coinage systems. Croesus is credited with introducing the world's first bimetallic currency system, establishing silver and gold coins of guaranteed purity that revolutionized commerce throughout the ancient Mediterranean.

The obverse displays the iconic confronting foreparts of a lion and bull, a powerful symbol of Lydian royal authority representing strength and fertility. The lion's mane and the bull's features show good definition for this small denomination. The reverse bears the characteristic incuse punch, a rectangular depression created during the striking process that authenticated these early coins and served as a precursor to designed reverse types.

Graded Extremely Fine by NGC Ancients with Strike 4/5 and Surface 3/5, this example exhibits well-preserved detail on the primary devices with an even gray patina across the surfaces. Croeseid fractional denominations are sought after by collectors of early coinage and those assembling type collections of the ancient world's foundational monetary systems. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.