For the better part of two hundred years, between the 6th and the 4th centuries BC, the turtle and tortoise staters of Aegina were some of the most widely-used of Greek coins, and today remain amongst the most iconic types for collectors. Just at a glance, this bronze coin wouldn't be recognised by most as an issue of Aegina, having neither turtle nor tortoise. It was struck long after the Aeginetans were finished as a major power in the Mediterranean, and was made strictly for local use. Obscure, uncommon, and right up my alley, then . When I first found it in mixed lot last year, I thought it was a charming and interesting little bronze. I hadn't seen one before, and couldn't find any other examples outside of reference books. In any case, I put it away and had quite forgotten about it until I came across a similar type in a recently concluded auction. Mine isn't in a grade that will appeal to well-heeled collectors, but the one in the auction apparently was. I'm glad to finally see what a nice one of these looks like, but am still plenty happy with mine. Please feel free to post your coins of Aegina, I'd be more than happy to see them. ATTICA, Aegina Circa 3rd-2nd centuries BC AE17 3.86g, 16.7mm BMC Attica p.144, 230-232; SNG Cop 541 O: AIΓI, prow. R: Ram's head right; AΓΛA below.
Don't have the ram coin, but I certainly would like one. And there is nothing wrong with this grade. Right up my alley.
Thanks @Kentucky, but mine is not very pretty. Some of the folks here have some real beautiful turtles. I think @zumbly has at least one.
Oh...I know there are some BEAUTIFUL ones, but even yours is nice and I might have the dough to buy it without refinancing my house.
@Kentucky one of the nice things about these beyond the fact that it's iconic, is the fat and heavy buggers. My is 11.96g, 20mm.
I must have mentioned it before, but I think your turtle's really nice. Mine is paddling off to one side, but like yours has a couple of interesting countermarks. Now that we've had a couple of swimmers, let's see the crawlers. Something else I'd love to have from Aegina is a smaller denomination turtle.
Wow, that's interesting! A bronze from Aegina, and sans iconic turtle? Very cool. Glad you were able to nail down the ID ISLANDS OFF ATTICA, Aegina 456/45-431 BCE AR stater; 20mm, 12.32 g Obv: land tortoise, head in profile, with segmented shell Rev: large square incuse with skew pattern Ref: SNG Delepierre 1774ff; BMC Taf. 24.11 This obol was a hasty purchase and I wish I'd held out for one with better centering. ISLANDS off ATTICA, Aegina 475-470 BCE AR obol; 0.97 gm Obv: sea turtle with single row of dots on back Rev: windmill-shaped incuse punch Ref: SNG Delepierre 1511; SNG Cop. 505
I really love those side shots of your land tortoise, TIF. And on the top down view he just looks like a total boss, sitting smugly dead center on his little silver rock .
I'm still missing the 'turtle' types and now, thanks to @zumbly, I'm aware of another type I'm missing...... Cool coins everyone!!!
