561-546 BC Lydia King Croesus Gold Twelfth Stater NGC Mint State

This exceptional gold twelfth stater represents the legendary King Croesus of Lydia, who ruled from 561-546 BC and is credited with issuing the world's first pure gold coinage. Struck in the ancient kingdom of Lydia in western Anatolia, this coin comes from the famous "Light Series" and showcases the revolutionary monetary system that would influence coinage throughout the ancient world. Croesus's wealth became proverbial, giving rise to the phrase "rich as Croesus," and his gold coins established the standard for precious metal currency.

The obverse displays the iconic confronted protomes of a lion and bull, masterfully rendered in high relief with exceptional detail for such a small denomination. The lion's mane and the bull's musculature are clearly defined, demonstrating the skilled craftsmanship of Lydian die engravers. The reverse features the characteristic incuse square punch typical of early Lydian electrum and gold coinage, with natural surface texture that adds to the coin's ancient character.

NGC has assigned this remarkable example a grade of MS with a strike rating of 5/5 and surface quality of 3/5. The coin exhibits bright gold surfaces with attractive natural patina and well-preserved detail throughout the design elements. Ancient Lydian gold coins remain highly sought after by collectors of early world coinage, representing a pivotal moment in monetary history. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.