Art Institute of Chicago

Stater (Coin) Depicting a Sea Turtle

Greek

Date

510-485 BCE

Medium

Silver

Culture

Aegina

Department

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

Institution

Art Institute of 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. On the back (reverse) of this coin is a geometric design comprised of a square with a windmill-like pattern.

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