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History Aegina
Aegina a small island in view of Athens was one of the first trading nations
in Greece and issued some of the first silver coins in the mid 6th century
BC, which became the world standard coinage"Turtles" until supplanted by
the Athens "Owls". These were crude coins with a turtle on the front and
punch mark on the back. Over the years the artistic quality of the turtle
improved. Aegina along with Lesbos were the only Greek
city states outside the Greeks of Asia minor to expand trading empires after the
fall of the Assyrians and Aegina became a commercial rival of Samos, while the
Athenians remained inward looking. Aegina probably hindered any attempts by
Athens to enter trade, because "of an ancient hatred" as quoted by "Herodos". At the
sea battle of Salamis against Persia, Aegina was voted the city that fought with
to most valor. In 459 BC, Athens and Aegina went to war and Aegina was forced to join the
Delian League dominated by Athens. About the same time the Aegina coins changed
from a sea turtle design to a land tortoise design (coincidence?) In 449 BC, Athens
ordered all members of the Delian league to cease production of coinage.
Aegina had lost its sea trading power to Athens. In 431 BC, the islanders were
expelled and were replaced by colonists from Athens. In 404 BC, after the defeat
of Athens by Sparta the Aeginetans were returned to their island.
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