Greek

Ancient Greek coinage has given us some of the most recognisable images from antiquity. The origin of the first Greek coins probably lies in the latter part of the 7th century BC, in Western Asia minor, starting out as primitive pieces of electrum. Later the first bimetallic currency was introduced in Lydia, providing a much greater range of denominations. The first European city to issue coins was probably Aigina, followed by others soon after. In the decades following the Persian wars the stiff style of the archaic period gradually gave way to the more elegant representations of the classical era.