The misshapen coin of Croesus signifies the beginning of the story of money as we know it. Courtesy: British Museum
The misshapen coin of Croesus signifies the beginning of the story of money as we know it. Courtesy: British Museum
The misshapen coin of Croesus signifies the beginning of the story of money as we know it. Courtesy: British Museum
The misshapen coin of Croesus signifies the beginning of the story of money as we know it. Courtesy: British Museum

A history of the world in 100 objects: The coins of Croesus


  • English
  • Arabic

Made of electrum, an alloy of gold and silver, the coins of King Croesus were the some of the earliest to be issued. Rather crudely fashioned by a few blows of a hammer, the rounded golden lumps date back to 550BC. They were minted in what is now Turkey, in the latter period of the reign of King Croesus, who conquered the Iron Age kingdom of Lydia.

The image of a lion and a bull fighting in profile can be seen on the face of the coin; this was an indication of the purity of the metal, which lifted the responsibility for checking the individual coins from the businessman to the ruler, elevating the kingdom’s position to trade and making King Croesus extremely wealthy.

“By reaching this literal gold standard, they could trade farther afield,” explains Becky Allen, the exhibition’s curator. “They didn’t have to trust people to trade in kind anymore. This is the beginning of the story of money as we know it.”

• Each Tuesday, Arts&Life will focus on one artefact on show as part of A History of the World in 100 Objects, an exhibition running until August 1 in Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

aseaman@thenational.ae

The specs: 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Price, base / as tested: Dh101,140 / Dh113,800


Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder


Power: 148hp @ 5,500rpm


Torque: 250Nm @ 2,000rpm


Transmission: Eight-speed CVT


Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

GOODBYE%20JULIA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohamed%20Kordofani%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiran%20Riak%2C%20Eiman%20Yousif%2C%20Nazar%20Goma%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Seven%20Winters%20in%20Tehran
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%20%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Steffi%20Niederzoll%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Reyhaneh%20Jabbari%2C%20Shole%20Pakravan%2C%20Zar%20Amir%20Ebrahimi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

The 100 Best Novels in Translation
Boyd Tonkin, Galileo Press

LOVE%20AGAIN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Jim%20Strouse%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Priyanka%20Chopra%20Jonas%2C%20Sam%20Heughan%2C%20Celine%20Dion%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs

Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 405hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 562Nm at 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
Price: From Dh292,845 (Reserve); from Dh320,145 (Presidential)
On sale: Now

MATCH INFO

Inter Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Watch the match on BeIN Sports