ISLANDS off ATTICA, Aegina. Circa 480-457 BC. AR Stater (20mm, 12.31 g, 12h). Good VF.

Triton XXIX
Lot: 184. Estimated: $ 5 000

Greek, 12h, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 11 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Go to Live

ISLANDS off ATTICA, Aegina. Circa 480-457 BC. AR Stater (20mm, 12.31 g, 12h). Sea turtle, head in profile, with ‘T-back’ design on shell / Large square incuse with skew pattern. Meadows, Aegina, Group IIIa; Milbank Period III; HGC 6, 448. Toned, patches of find patina, some cleaning scratches. Good VF.

Ex Wild Rose Collection; Roma XIX (26 March 2020), lot 348; Numismatica Ars Classica 114 (6 May 2019), lot 189; Numismatic Fine Arts XII (23 March 1983), lot 55.

The first coins produced on the island of Aegina depicted a sea turtle (emblematic of the marine interests of the Aeginetans) on the obverse, while bearing on the reverse the imprint of the punch used to force metal into the obverse die. The production of turtles decreased as silver from the island of Siphnos was no longer available and Mediterranean trade was now dominated by Athens, the new mistress of the Aegean. In 457 BC, Athens conquered Aegina and stripped her of her maritime powers. Following the loss of her naval autonomy, Aegina produced staters with a land tortoise on the obverse in lieu of her former emblematic sea turtle. Subsequently in 431 BC, the Aeginetans were expelled from their homeland by the Athenians, only returning after the conclusion of the Peloponnesian War.

The final winners of all Triton XXIX lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 13-14 January 2026.

Triton XXIX – Session One – Lot 1-301 will be held Tuesday morning, 13 January 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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