At the Savoca sale on 28 January, one of the highlights was a silver stater from Aegina, an island off Attica in the Aegean Sea (lot 43). Aegina began minting its own coins around 700 BC, becoming one of the earliest cities to engage in such a practice. Dating from c.525–480 BC, the reverse of the coin in the auction bore the image of a sea turtle with a thick linear ‘T’ pattern collar and a row of pellets down its back. The sea turtle motif was at the heart of this early coinage, and it was more than just a decorative choice because it embodied the essence of the island and resonated with the maritime identity of Aegina, which was a dominant naval power at the time. On the reverse, there was a square with incuse segments, one nearly filled, in the pattern of the ‘Union Jack’. This technique involved punching the reverse side to create a sunken relief that was divided into four simple geometric sections. The reverse of these coins are characterised by this incuse square pattern, which was chosen for more than its aesthetic appeal because it also showed the craftsmanship and technological abilities of those minting the coins. This well-centred example had a €2,800 hammer price.
SOLD FOR £2,385
A Queen Anne (1702–14) ‘VIGO’ silver crown dated 1703 was a highlight from the CNG auction on 9–10 January (lot 1307). This coin
