Electrum coinage of Persia and Iran
Natural gold–silver alloy used in the very earliest struck coinage reaching Persian markets. 1 catalogued example spanning Pre-Achaemenid & Median.
In short
Electrum is a natural gold–silver alloy from the rivers of Lydia, and the metal of the world's first struck coinage — the money the Persians inherited when Cyrus took Sardis in 546 BCE. Electrum accounts for 1 of the catalogued Persian and Iranian pieces, spanning 560 BCE – 610 CE. Natural gold–silver alloy used in the very earliest struck coinage reaching Persian markets. Denominations struck in this material include Stater.
- Catalogued
- 1
- Eras
- 1
- Metals
- 1
- Denominations
- 1
Key facts
| Catalogued pieces | 1 |
|---|---|
| Date range | 560 BCE – 610 CE |
| Eras represented | Pre-Achaemenid & Median |
| Metals | Electrum |
| Denominations | Stater |
| Mints | Sardis |
| Issuers | King Alyattes |
| Composition | Natural gold–silver alloy, ~30–55% gold |
| First coinage | Lydia, late 7th century BCE |
| Stater weight | ≈14.1 g, with fractions to 1/96 |
| Persian relevance | Inherited via Sardis after 546 BCE |
The first coins
Late seventh-century Lydian electrum staters and their fractions, struck with a punch reverse and a lion or striated obverse, are the earliest coins known. Because natural electrum varies from roughly 30% to 55% gold, its true value was unverifiable by eye — a problem Croesus solved by separating the alloy and issuing distinct gold and silver coinage.
That reform is the direct ancestor of the Achaemenid bimetallic system. When Persia absorbed Lydia, it absorbed the Croeseid standard and the Sardis mint with it, and the daric and siglos grew out of both.
Collecting electrum
Electrum is scarce and expensive: the surviving population is small, provenance is heavily scrutinised, and most pieces on the market are fractions rather than full staters. Weight standards (a stater near 14.1 g, with halves, thirds, sixths, twelfths and smaller) are the first attribution step.
Colour is diagnostic — a pale, slightly greenish yellow quite unlike refined gold. Buy only with documented provenance and third-party certification; this is a field where forgeries are technically sophisticated.
Pre-Achaemenid & Median · c. 1000 – 550 BCE
Era overview →Frequently asked about Electrum
- Why were the first coins made of electrum?
- Because electrum occurred naturally in Lydian river sands. Its variable gold content made valuation difficult, which is why Croesus soon replaced it with separate gold and silver coinages.
- Is electrum the same as gold?
- No. Electrum is an alloy of gold and silver with a distinctly paler, greener colour and a lower density than refined gold.
- What is a Electrum?
- Electrum accounts for 1 of the catalogued Persian and Iranian pieces, spanning 560 BCE – 610 CE. Natural gold–silver alloy used in the very earliest struck coinage reaching Persian markets. Denominations struck in this material include Stater.
- How many Electrum pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
- 1 item, dated 560 BCE – 610 CE, spread across 1 era: Pre-Achaemenid & Median.
- Which metals were used for Electrum coinage?
- Electrum. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
- Which denominations are associated with Electrum?
- Stater. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.
- Where were Electrum coins minted?
- Recorded mints include Sardis.