Currency has been around in some form for over 5,000 years, starting with the ancient Mesopotamian civilization. Since that time, the currency has evolved to what you see today, using materials of little value to represent higher amounts of wealth. If you’re a current coin collector or an aspiring one, adding old currency to your collection can add great value. So what are some of the oldest coins in the world? Find out here.
Lydian Slater or Lydian Lion
Produced in the Kingdom of Lydia in modern-day Turkey around 600 B.C., the Lydian slater, also known as the Lydian Lion due to its depiction of a lion, is the oldest known coin in existence. Made of a mix of gold and silver called electrum, this coin was thought to be worth about a month’s salary or the equivalent of the purchase price of 11 sheep.
Ionian Hemiobols
Minted in the City of Cyme in Ionia in what’s now central Turkey, the Ionian Hemiobols date back to around 550 B.C. Made from a mix of silver and iron, the Hemiobols had a stamp of a horse’s head and was primarily used in transactions at markets. Currency experts believe that through this currency, the Ionians were responsible for spreading the idea of basic economics to other civilizations.
Ying Yuan
Ancient Chinese civilizations once used shells for currency, but the emergence of the Ying Yuan transformed the currency system throughout the empire. Unlike western civilizations, the Ying Yuan was either rectangular or square and made entirely of gold. This currency first appeared in around 500 B.C. and the modern-day Chinese yuan still carries its name.
Karshapana
Although unassociated with any currency produced in western civilization, the Karshapana is still one of the world’s oldest currencies, dating back to around 500 B.C. Minted in India, experts believe that the Karshapana was the first form of currency on the Indian Subcontinent. The coins were made from silver and featured multiple stamps, as well as hole punches.
Persian Daric
Minted around 500 B.C., the Persian Daric was a solid gold coin that was part of the empire of Cyrus the Great. With a weight of roughly 8 grams, the coin was worth the equivalent of 20 silver coins, although little is known about the actual value of coins in Persian society. These coins are exceptionally rare, as the army of Alexander the Great melted down most of the coins after conquering the Persian empire.
Hallaton Silver Coin
Discovered in England by an amateur collector with a metal detector, a cache of 130 Iron Age coins known as Hallaton silver coins are thought to be the oldest coins on the island. Little is known about the origin or value of the coins, but it remains one of the oldest coins ever discovered.
Trade-In or Trade-Up with Londoin Coin Galleries
If you want to get your hands on some older or more valuable coins, don’t just trade parts of your collection to a pawn shop or gold shop. From ancient to new and everything in between, At London Coin Galleries of Newport Beach we will provide you with fair value for your coins and you reap the benefits of your hard work and collecting prowess.
Contact us to discuss or book an appointment for a coin evaluation.
FAQs
Lydian Slater or Lydian Lion
What is the oldest coin on Earth? ›
Created over 2,700 years ago, but now located in the British Museum, is the Lydian Lion, the oldest coin in the world. It is a one-sided design featuring a roaring lion, the emblem of the Lydian Kings who created it around 610-600 BC.
What is the oldest coin with a date on it? ›
The earliest dated coin is a Samian silver tetradrachm struck in Zankle (now Messina), Sicily, dated year 1, viz 494 BC - shown as the letter 'A' on one side. The earliest Christian Era dated coin is: MCCXXXIIII (1234) Bishop of Roskilde coins, Denmark (six known).
What is the rarest coin in the world? ›
1849 Double Eagle Gold Coin
The one remaining specimen is carefully preserved at National Numismatic Collections at the Smithsonian Institution. The 1849 Double Eagle is currently the rarest and most valuable coin in the world, with an estimated value of around $20 million.
What is the oldest American coin? ›
The Fugio cent, also known as the Franklin cent, is the first official circulation coin of the United States. Consisting of 0.36 oz (10 g) of copper and minted dated 1787, by some accounts it was designed by Benjamin Franklin.
What is the most valuable ancient coin? ›
Panticapaeum Stater: 2,000-year-old Gold Greek Coin
According to Artnet News, the coin is named after the ancient Greek city in modern-day Crimea and sold for $6 million at Numismatica Ars Classica in Switzerland, making it the most expensive ancient coin ever sold at auction.
What is the oldest money still in circulation? ›
The British pound is the world's oldest currency still in use at around 1,200 years old. Dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, the pound has gone through many changes before evolving into the currency we recognise today.
What is the oldest money in the world? ›
Sterling is the world's oldest currency in continuous use since its inception. In 2022, it was the fourth-most-traded currency in the foreign exchange market, after the United States dollar, the euro, and the Japanese yen.
Which is the oldest form of money still in existence today? ›
The oldest form of money that is still recognized in existence today is the cowrie shell. Cowries have a significant history of use that spans various cultures and continents, starting as early as 700 B.C. in China.
What is the oldest coin that is still legal tender? ›
Swiss banks are famous for their secrecy, but a very public fact about Swiss currency brings new meaning to the term "old money." In 2021, the Guiness Book of World Records named Switzerland's 10 centimes coin, minted since 1879 by Switzerland's Federal Mint (Swissmint) as the "oldest coin design still in circulation."
1933 Double Eagle
And here is the world's most expensive coin of all time: the 1933 Double Eagle, worth up to $18.9 million. It sold for this price at auction in 2021, per Smithsonian Magazine.
What rare coin has no date? ›
In November 2008, a rare error happened – some 20p coins were minted without the year on them. These coins were some of the first in 300 years to be released into circulation without a date on them! Out of the 136 million 20p minted in November of 2008, only about 250,000 were struck without a date.
What coin is worth $1,000,000? ›
1911 Canadian Silver Dollar
This coin is the epitome of rarity, with only three known to exist. Known as the “Emperor of Canadian Coins,” one of these exceptionally rare coins sold for over a million dollars in 2010.
What year is Penny worth $20,000? ›
That's what happened to several pennies produced in 1982, which pushed their value up from 1 cent to nearly $20,000. The penny in question is the 1982-D Small Date Copper Alloy Lincoln Cent, which sold at auction in 2016 for $18,800, according to Numismatic News.
What is the most worthless coin in the world? ›
Tiyin
| Value | 0.01 Uzbekistani soum |
| Mass | 1.75 g |
| Diameter | 16.9 mm |
| Obverse |
|---|
| Reverse |
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5 more rowsNumismatic historians agree that the Lydian stater was the very first coin officially issued by a government and it served as the model for virtually all subsequent coinage everywhere. Unlike other tokens, or items used in barter, coins are issued by a central authority or government.
When was the first 1 coin? ›
It has featured the profile of Queen Elizabeth II since the original coin's introduction on 21 April 1983. Four different portraits of the Queen have been used, with the latest design by Jody Clark being introduced in 2015.
How old is the first coin? ›
Early developments, c. 650–490 bc. True coinage began soon after 650 bc. The 6th-century Greek poet Xenophanes, quoted by the historian Herodotus, ascribed its invention to the Lydians, “the first to strike and use coins of gold and silver.” King Croesus of Lydia (reigned c.
