Tortoise

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Pishpash, May 30, 2015.

  1. Pishpash

    Pishpash Well-Known Member

    Silver Stater
    Aigina, Aegina
    445-431 BC
    18-22mm 7mm thick. 11.90g
    Land tortoise viewed from above
    Geometric incuse skew pattern with 5 segments

    There is iridescence forming which is difficult to capture, at first I thought I could see bronze (horror) but it isn't (phew) and there are traces of blue.

    Big crack, am I bothered? Not at all. I love this little guy, he has seen some life.

    Somebody did tell me that I might pick up a better one at auction for the money, but I kept going back to this little guy and then husband offered to get it for our 10th wedding anniversary. So what can a gal do?

    The coin looks dirty, but if you tilt it the "dirt" is shiny. I think it is going to take me a while to get decent photos so these will have to do for a while.

    Feel free to pile on with your tortoises and turtles.
    IMG_2830_burned.jpg IMG_2831.JPG
     

    Attached Files:

    David Atherton, ro1974, Eng and 11 others like this.
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  3. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Oooh, nice tortoise! I love the irregular flan... it's like he's on his own little island. And interesting tones... I seem to see blue, gold, bronze and pink??
     
    Mikey Zee likes this.
  4. Pishpash

    Pishpash Well-Known Member

    Yes Z I am getting different shades in different lights. The more I look at him the more I like him. It is going to be tough putting him away tonight
     
    zumbly likes this.
  5. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    What is the 3rd picture you posted? A Starfish? ;)
     
  6. Pishpash

    Pishpash Well-Known Member

    No, it is the reverse of the coin, described as a Geometric incuse skew pattern with 5 segments
     
    paddyman98 likes this.
  7. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Very nice!
     
  8. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Love turtle coins. Nice and chunky, eh?
     
    Pishpash likes this.
  9. Gil-galad

    Gil-galad I AM SPARTACUS

    That's one coin I don't have and don't foresee getting one anytime soon. Yours is nice, despite the rough flan.
     
    Pishpash likes this.
  10. Mikey Zee

    Mikey Zee Delenda Est Carthago

    I Love it PISH!!!

    Hey, for being almost 2,500 years old, it's holding its age well!! :)

    Still no turtles for me:(
     
    Pishpash likes this.
  11. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    I like this coin very much. The shell detail on the turtle is still there, along with the head and front flippers. Also, the incuse pattern is very clear. Overall a very pleasing example of the type - a nice little rock of a coin.
     
    Pishpash likes this.
  12. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Excellent find, Pish! Nice shell detail, turtle completely on flan, pretty iridescence... :)

    My turtle went to visit AJ's turtle and it picked up a little color. Who knew they were such copycats? :D

    AeginaStaterBorrowedPatina.jpg

    Okay, okay... just some Photoshop fun. I wish mine had such pretty iridescence like AJ's and Pish's, but it's a wonderful example even without it :).

    [​IMG]
    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

    Side views:

    AeginaStater-SideViews.jpg
     
    ro1974, Eng, stevex6 and 7 others like this.
  13. Pishpash

    Pishpash Well-Known Member

    Yours and AJ's are both stunning, out of my league perhaps!
    I am happy with my little guy, I don't mind that he is a bit ragged around the edges it gives him character.
     
    Mikey Zee likes this.
  14. Aidan_()

    Aidan_() Numismatic Contributor

    The beat up flan gives it such character Pish. ;)
     
    Pishpash likes this.
  15. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Heck, I may as well show my lone example again:
    ATTICA, AEGINA.jpg
     
    Eng, stevex6, chrsmat71 and 5 others like this.
  16. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Desktop9__1433027533_70.126.65.21.jpg Another photo re-shoot:
     
    Last edited: May 30, 2015
    chrsmat71, TIF, zumbly and 3 others like this.
  17. Pishpash

    Pishpash Well-Known Member

    Bing yours is absolutely great. I love it when the head, tail and all four flippers on on the flan :)
     
  18. Ancientnoob

    Ancientnoob Money Changer

    My humble example.
    AeginaTurtle.jpg
     
    Eng, stevex6, chrsmat71 and 4 others like this.
  19. ValiantKnight

    ValiantKnight Well-Known Member

    Interesting coin pish.
     
  20. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Just out of curiosity, does anyone else see an image in the small brown circle on the reverse of my coin. Maybe is like the Rorschach test.
     
  21. Mikey Zee

    Mikey Zee Delenda Est Carthago

    Another Rorschach test!!:vomit:

    Actually, I see a circle indentation---either a bankers mark or some kind of stylized star??
    On second glance....... I see ELVIS!!!:stop:
     
    Pishpash and TIF like this.
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