But Alyattes had been making coins out of electrum, a naturally occurring gold-and-silver alloy that often has bits of other metals in it. Alyattes' coins were standardized based on weight ...

Where it is from: The kingdom of Lydia (modern western Turkey) When it was made: Circa 560 to 547 B.C. Related: Ancient Egyptian 'granary ... the world's first gold coin. Known as a stater or ...