Description:

Greece, Aegina, ca. 550 to 500 BCE. Silver state, 10.6 grams. Obverse: Sea turtle, head in profile. Reverse: Small incuse square with skew pattern. Small banker's mark on obverse. Size: .71" Diameter (1.8 cm); quality of silver 98.39%; total weight: 10.6 grams

The Saronic Islands are an archipelago in the wide body of water off the western coast of Athens, and the island of Aegina is the second largest in the chain. The sea-turtle or tortoise was a symbol of the island from its very earliest coins, ca. 650 BCE. The uniformity of its coins over the centuries suggests that it served as an internationally traded currency, and keeping it easily identifiable was more important than the mercurial whims of its rulers. This coin emphasizes Aegina's role as a major commercial state in Greece - so desirable that Athens conquered it in ca. 457 BCE.

Compare to Meadows, Aegina, Group IIc; HGC 6, 434.

Provenance: ex-Ryan collection, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA, gifted before 1985

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#163608

  • Condition: Toned, small banker's mark on obverse. Fine. Light mineral deposits in recessed areas. Small nicks to surface.

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April 15, 2021 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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