Where it is from: The kingdom of Lydia (modern western Turkey) When it was made: Circa 560 to 547 B.C. Related: Ancient Egyptian 'granary with scribes' diorama: A miniature workplace found buried ...

The very first coin, known today as the "Croesus stater" by historians and coin collectors, has a long story behind it. History usually isn't decided by a coin toss, and there are good reasons why ...