510-485 BCE
Ancient Greek, minted in Aegina
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/142732/stater-coin-depicting-a-sea-turtle
2. silver stater (coin) depicting a land tortoise
404-350 BCE
Ancient Greek, minted in Aegina
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/9648/stater-coin-depicting-a-land-tortoise
Art Institute Chicago
Coins of Aegina depicted images of sea turtles on their coins when the island of Aegina was the supreme sea power among the Greek city-states. The sea turtle, seen here on the front (obverse) of this coin, represented its naval strength and resiliency. After its defeat by Athens in 458 BCE, Aegina ceased using the sea turtle and substituted the land tortoise to symbolize its lost sea power.
[Art Institute Chicago]
sharing is caring:
