10 Oldest Coins that Ever Existed in the World

Although modern society is moving away from using physical currency, coinage has been used by people for thousands of years.

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The first coins were developed around the 7th century in Iron Age Anatolia (specifically Lydia), China, India, and Ancient Greece.

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Several examples of these early coins have survived and belong to private collectors or various museums around the world.

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7. Hallaton Silver Coin Year Created: c.211 BCE Country of Origin: Rome, Italy (found in Hallaton, England) Metal(s) Used: Silver

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6. Persian Daric Year Created: c.520 – 480 BCE Country of Origin: Achaemenid Persian Empire, Western Asia Metal(s) Used: Gold

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5. Aegina Sea Turtle Year Created: c.550 BCE Country of Origin: Island of Aegina, Greece Metal(s) Used: Silver

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4. Karshapana Year Created: c.600 BCE Country of Origin: India Metal(s) Used: Silver

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3. Ying Yuan Year Created: c.600 – 500 BCE Country of Origin: China Metal(s) Used: Gold

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2. Ionian Hemiobols Year Created: c. 600 – 550 BCE Country of Origin: City of Cyme in ancient Ionia (modern-day central coast of Turkey Metal(s) Used: Silver

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1. Lydian Lion Year Created: c.610 – 600 BCE Country of Origin: The Kingdom of Lydia (modern-day western Turkey) Metal(s) Used: Electrum – alloy of gold and silver

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