2021-07-26 Mon

Greek monetary system consists of outstanding metallurgy and artistic design. It can be due to fact that they are known as one of the earliest issuers of the coin. During the ancient period, Greece was divided into different city-states known as ‘Polis’.

One of these Polis was Aegina, which is located about 30 miles away from Athens. Since it was an island, it emerged as a powerful maritime trade centre during the 6th Century BCE. Hence, it developed its own currency issues for trade.

Due to constant seafaring activities, Aegina coins bore a turtle on its obverse. However, there are few scholars opine that turtle is the attribution of Aphrodite, whose temple stood on the island so they might have adopted them on their coins!

Image Courtesy: coinsweek.com