[24mm/0.9"]
Aegina was the first city-state in Europe to mint its own coins, beginning in the 6th century B.C. The sea turtle symbolized Aegina's naval strength and Maritime Trade. Aegina was one of the first city-states in ancient Greece to mint its own coins, starting in the 6th century B.C.The sea turtle was replaced with a land tortoise on later coins to symbolize the loss of its sea power after Aegina was defeated by Athens in 458 B.C.
The Aeginetic stater was the first silver coin to be widely used for trade throughout the Mediterranean and the East.
