Hemihekte

Among the earliest coined money produced anywhere in the world, electrum fractions from uncertain Ionian mints predate the standardization efforts of Croesus and represent the experimental phase of coinage itself — a period when weight standards, issuing authority, and even the concept of a guaranteed fineness were still being worked out. The natural electrum alloy used in these pieces varies considerably in gold-to-silver ratio, making metallurgical analysis the primary tool for attributing them to specific regions or workshops.