Lot 2261

Description

ATTICA, Aegina, (500-490 B.C.), silver stater, (12.07 g), obv. smoothed shell sea turtle without row of dots down dorsal spine, countermark on back of turtle with a a figure with raised arms, rev. small incuse square, of 'small skew' design with five sunken triangle compartments, (S.1858, Asyut Group III-IV, 'Small skew' cf.548-550, Holloway Group IV, Millbank (ANS MN&N 24 [p.19] CNG Sale 47, [lot 406 this coin]). Off centred reverse and countermark very fine, otherwise good fine and extremely rare for these known countermarks.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction Sale 47, September 16, 1998 (lot 406 illustrated).^Mando Caramessini-Oeconomides in discussing the 1970 Myrina Hoard in (Essays Thompson) believes the hoard was buried in 440 B.C. and that date would explain the numbers of countermarks in that hoard, which she states would explain it as Aegina lost their independence in 457 B.C., and the consequent uncertainty regarding her financial position and coinage acceptance in foreign markets led to the countermarking of circulating staters.