at Ephesus, are currently dated to the first half of the 7th century BC (c.650 BC). Electrum is believed to have been used in coins in Lydia during the reign of Alyattes.

Electrum was much better for coinage than gold, mostly because it was harder and more durable, but also because techniques for refining gold were not widespread at the time. The gold content of naturally occurring electrum in modern western Anatolia