Coinage of Aegina

The Coinage of Aegina began in the 6th century BC. The front has a sea turtle design, while the back has a punch mark, found on most coins at that time. The earliest coins were made of electrum, a mix of gold and silver. The coins were first made in the island of Aegina, off the southeast side of Greece. Some historical sources say the first coins were made by the king of Argos, Pheidon. The coins with 'turtle' design are considered "an important early trading currency".[1]

Silver staters of Aegina
Silver stater of Aegina, 550–530 BC. Obv. Sea turtle with large pellets down center. Rev. incuse square with eight sections. After the end of the Peloponnesian War, 404 BC, Sea turtle was replaced by the land tortoise.
Silver drachma of Aegina, 404–340 BC. Obverse: Land tortoise. Reverse: inscription ΑΙΓ[ΙΝΑΤΟΝ] ([of the] Aeg[inetans]) "Aegina" and dolphin.

See also

References
  1. "Silver stater, with a turtle". The British Museum. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.


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