1500 Francs CFA The Lidian Stater Coin

The Lydian stater — struck in electrum at Sardis sometime in the late 7th century BC under the Mermnad dynasty, most likely during the reign of Alyattes or his son Croesus — is broadly credited as the earliest true coinage in the Western tradition. Whether Croesus actually introduced the bimetallic system of pure gold and silver issues that replaced the electrum stater remains debated, but his name became so synonymous with coined wealth that it survived into modern idiom.

Chad's CFA franc issues of this commemorative type are struck under license and have no circulation function whatsoever.