Interesting and Rare Transitional Tortoise Stater

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Nemo, Nov 19, 2019.

  1. Nemo

    Nemo Well-Known Member

    I've often admired the tortoise and sea turtle coins of the Islands off Attica. I finally found one I couldn't resist. Although not noted in the sellers description, this is a very rare "Head in Profile" transitional issue.

    Tort Stater.jpg
    Islands off Attica, Aegina Transitional Issue Land Tortoise
    Islands off Attica, Aegina. Circa 456/45-431 BC. AR Stater 12.40g, 22mm
    O: Land tortoise, head in profile, with segmented shell
    R: Large square incuse with heavy skew pattern.

    - Meadows, Aegina, Group IIIb; Milbank pl. II, 13; HGC 6, 437 var. (head not in profile); SNG Copenhagen 517 var. (same); Dewing 1683 var. (same); Gillet 948 var. (same); Jameson 1200 var. (same); Pozzi 1635 var. (same).

    Here is the comment from the same type sold at a Triton auction. "The head of the land tortoise on this massive coinage is typically engraved shown from above, with the tortoise looking forward. Very rarely are they encountered with the head shown in profile. The profile head was canonical on the earlier, sea turtle coinage, thus the land tortoise coins of this variety may represent a short transitional issue at the beginning of this period."

    I know there are a lot of tortoises and sea turtles out there, let's see them!
     
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  3. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Great catch!
     
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  4. Nemo

    Nemo Well-Known Member

  5. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    This is not the one I usually post but those who know me will understand why I found it interesting.
    g41000bb1784.jpg
     
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  6. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Amazing coin @Nemo. Congrats.
    ATTICA AEGINA aa.jpg
     
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  7. Colby J.

    Colby J. Well-Known Member

    That is one expensive coin you got there! You guys are just throwing this coin up like it's nothing! :)
     
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  8. Nemo

    Nemo Well-Known Member

    That is not the sea turtle I expected you to post. It is a cool example with a very prominent beak but I imagine there’s more to it. Looks like a tunny on the left :)
     
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  9. Nemo

    Nemo Well-Known Member

  10. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    There is a large die cud left of the turtle. I often wonder how bad a die failure had to get before they retired it. I assume they needed to continue production while a new die was being cut.
     
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  11. arizonarobin

    arizonarobin Well-Known Member

    The OP Turtle is beautiful, the detail is fantastic and makes mine looks like a lump of metal rather than a turtle.

    [​IMG]
     
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  12. Nemo

    Nemo Well-Known Member

    That’s a great coin @arizonarobin. Your example is a sea turtle, not a tortoise, so it never had the segmented details on the shell. The sea turtle staters often have no detail or just simple bumps down the middle of the shell which are the first details to wear off.
     
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  13. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    Stunning addition @Nemo !
     
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  14. Collect89

    Collect89 Coin Collector

    Last edited: Nov 20, 2019
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  15. Johndoe2000$

    Johndoe2000$ Well-Known Member

    Very nice, one of the best turtles I've seen here. Congrats on the pick up.
     
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