The ancient city of Sardes in Manisa is located at a 72 km distance from İzmir on the İzmir – Ankara highway.

The Attalos Brook, which was named after the son of Zeus, carried scraps of gold to Sardes starting with the 7th Century B.C. and this continued until the 1st Century A.D. The Lydians utilized this gold and besides making various objects, they got the first gold coin printed. Thus, the King Alyattes got the first gold coin printed in 600 B.C. After him, the King Kezius (560 – 547 B.C.) got coins printed from pure gold and continued the leadership of Sardes in this respect during the ancient age.

Sardes reached the peak of wealth and cultural development during the time of Kroisos, who was the last king of the Mermands, and became the center of art and culture of Western Anatolia.