The first coin in history — the gold of King Croesus
In ancient Lydia an idea was born that changed the world: a piece of metal whose value is guaranteed by the state. This is where "rich as Croesus" comes from.
About 2,600 years ago, in the kingdom of Lydia (in present-day Turkey), the first true coins appeared — pieces of electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver, stamped with an official symbol. Before that, people weighed metal at every exchange. The coin brought a revolutionary idea: a standardized, guaranteed value.
King Croesus and pure gold
King Croesus of Lydia perfected the system, separating gold from silver and minting coins of pure gold. His wealth became legendary — hence the saying "rich as Croesus". He understood something that underpins every bank today: a trusted coin makes trade possible and puts a kingdom on the map.
Why it matters for Kosron
Kosron Bank is an educational game, but it starts from the same 2,600-year-old idea: a clear unit of value, trusted by all participants, makes it possible to learn about saving, credit and interest — with no real risk.
