Speaker
Description
As a result of the re-dating of the Artemision deposit (IGCH 1153/1154) to c. 640–620 BC, the chronological range of early electrum coinage has been extended considerably. Die-links seem to connect the Royal Lydian coinage with some Ionian series, including that of Miletos. The early Lydian electrum coinage turns out to be much more complex (to avoid the word "chaotic") than hitherto thought; in addition to the KVKALIM, WALWET and LATE groups, various anepigraphic series are closely interlinked with the Royal Lydian series. At the same time, Lydian coin legends raise serious problems, the WALWET legend in particular. It will be argued that the perplexing evidence can be reconciled with what is known about the history of the Mermnad dynasty.
