An ancient coin believed to be the oldest one found so far in Bulgaria has been discovered in the Black Sea just off the town of Sozopol.

According to Vladimir Penchev, numismatist at the National History Museum (NHM) in Sofia, the coin made of electrum (a gold/silver alloy) can be dated back to the second half of the 7th century BC as originating from the kingdom of Lydia which means it is at least 2,650 years old.

Lydia was an ancient land of western Anatolia, extending east from the Aegean Sea and occupying the valleys of the Hermus and Cayster rivers. The Lydians were said to be the originators of gold and silver coins.

The coin weighing 0,63 грама was equivalent to 1/24th of stater, an ancient Greek coin made of gold, silver or gold/silver alloy, the NHM said in a statement.

It was discovered in sea water one meter deep off Sozopol by an unnamed scuba diver who turned it over to NHM.