Kingdom of Lydia Alyattes II EL Trite

Kingdom of Lydia. Alyattes II EL Trite. 610-560 BC. Sardes mint, 4.67g, 13mm.
O: Confronted lion’s heads (only the right is visible); walwet (partially off flan) between.
R: Double incuse square punch. Weidauer 93.

The Kingdom of Lydia under the Mermnad dynasty may well have been the originator of coinage in the Mediterranean world. It possessed rich deposits of electrum, an alloy of gold and silver, which was the only metal used for coin production in its earliest stages. While most of these coins are anepigraphic, a small number of types bear either the the inscription walwet or kukalim in Lydian, the former thought to be the name of the Mermnad king known from Greek sources as Alyattes.

On trites such as this coin, the oversized die features two confronted lion's heads, with the inscription between them, although only the right or left lion is ever fully visible. It would seem the dies were initially produced for the striking of staters, although none survive.