AEGINA: AR stater (12.03g), ca. 525-480 BC, HGC-6/429, Meadows Aegina Group IIb, sea turtle

Description

AEGINA: AR Stater

– **Weight:** 12.03 g
– **Date:** Circa 525-480 BC
– **Condition:** Fine

**Obverse:**
– **Design:** Features a sea turtle with a distinctive segmented shell.
– **Additional Details:** A banker’s mark is present on the shell.

**Reverse:**
– **Design:** Displays an incuse square with a mill-sail pattern.

**Catalog References:**
– **HGC:** 6/429
– **Meadows:** Aegina Group IIb

**Historical Context:**
The island of Aegina was one of the earliest Greek states to produce coinage. The stater, characterized by its depiction of a sea turtle, symbolizes the maritime power and the economic significance of Aegina during the Archaic period. The mill-sail incuse pattern on the reverse is typical of early Greek coinage, which often utilized geometric designs due to the technological limitations of the time.

The use of banker’s marks indicates that these coins circulated widely and were authenticated by money changers or bankers in different regions. This suggests that Aegina’s coinage played a crucial role in trade across the Aegean and beyond.

**For further information, please call 212 3191077**