Page:Origin of metallic currency and weight standards.djvu/314

 which was now represented by an equal value, though not of course by an equal weight, of pure gold.

Coin of Croesus.

Thus the old Phoenician electrum stater of 220 grs. was replaced by a pure gold coin of 168 grs., equivalent like its predecessor in electrum to 10 silver staters of 220 grs. each, and the old Babylonian electrum stater of 168 grs. was replaced by a new pure gold stater of 126 grs., equal in value like it to 10 silver staters of 168 grs. each, "as now for the first time coined." These gold coins bear as obverse the foreparts of a lion and a bull facing each other, and on the reverse an oblong incuse divided into two parts (Fig. 29). Of the Babylonian standard we find:

Stater     168 grs. Trite       56  " Hecte        28  " Hemihecton  14  "

And of the light shekel:

Stater     126 grs. Trite       42  " Hecte        21  " Hemihecton  11  "

Of Babylonian standard silver:

Stater     168 grs. 1/2 stater  84  " 1/3 stater   56  " 1/12 stater 14  "