AEGINA SILVER STATER – SEA TURTLE ISSUE SEEMING OVERSTRUCK ON EARLIER TURTLE – VF NGC GRADED GREEK COIN (Inv. 19852)

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19852. ISLAND OF AEGINA. Ca. 525–480 BC.
Silver Stater, 12.31 g, 21 mm.
Obv. Sea turtle with shell showing a thick collar, its beaked head turned left. Rev. Punch with “Union Jack” pattern.
Meadows, Group IIb; HGC 6, 430.
NGC graded VF, Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5, “edge marks,” glossy dark gray cabinet toning, distinct traces of overstriking.

Although MacDonald, Overstruck Greek Coins (Atlanta, 2009), does not include any Aeginetan overstruck pieces, this coin displays characteristic traces of an undertype on the obverse and some minor traces (lines) on the reverse. While it is difficult to be certain, it may well be that this coin was struck over a “proto–tortoise” of Meadows Group Ib, whose massive form was compressed into the oval shape we notice under the present sea turtle. There are certainly other examples of overstruck Aegina turtles including CNG 40, 12/4/1996, lot 1014 and Nomos Obolos 33, 9/8/2024, lot 276.