aegina-ancient-greece-c-550-480-bc-archaic-period-item

Historical Context

Aegina was one of the earliest Greek city-states to issue coinage, possibly the first in Europe, beginning around the mid-6th century BC. Its silver staters, based on the Aeginetan weight standard, became a widely accepted and influential trade currency throughout the Aegean Sea and beyond. The sea turtle was a prominent symbol of Aegina, reflecting its maritime power, trade, and the island's connection to the sea. Later issues of Aegina's coinage would transition from the sea turtle to a land tortoise.