Ancient Greece - 457-350 BCE Island of Aegina Turtle AR Stater NGC AU★

The obverse presents a sea turtle with a realistic depiction of its shell. The reverse is a geometric design of a square with a five-part incuse strike. Both sides of this piece display original patina. This is a rare piece of Ancient Greek numismatic art with a unique look. NGC AU★ with Strike 5/5 and Surface 4/5. 12.35 grams.

Ruins of the Temple of Apollo on the Greek island of Aegina. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The Stater was an ancient Greek coin (Stater literally meant 'weight') that was produced in numerous Greek city-states, as well as Aegina. Coins with the turtle motif were important in commerce. Aegina was one of the first and most active of the ancient Greek mints. By 550 BCE the production of distinct silver turtle Staters had begun on the island of Aegina, which was off the coast of Attica.

The coins of Aegina presented the image of sea turtles on them when Aegina was a major sea power among the Greek city-states. The sea turtle was representative of Aegina's naval strength and resiliency. After being defeated by Athens in 458 BCE, Aegina replaced the sea turtle with a land tortoise, symbolizing its loss of prestige and sea power.