Turtles appeared on some of the earliest coins ever struck. The earliest coinage of
ancient Greece was that of the state of Aegina, an island state reaching its commercial
zenith long before Athens came into prominence. Aegina produced its first silver coins
about 700 B.C. and these coins depicted excellent likenesses of sea turtles. For the next 300
years (from the 6th century B.C. to the 4th century B.C.), Aegina produced large numbers
of coins, all with turtle designs. The earlier coins all depicted sea turtles but after Aegina
was occupied by Attic troops in the 5th century B.C., the figure on the coins changed very
suddenly to the Marginated Tortoise (Testudo marginate).
These Aegean coins were accepted as currency throughout the entire Peloponnesus and
were known by most people simply as "turtle". They were struck on a heavier standard than
the coins of Athens, causing the Athenians to call them "thick drachmas".
After the fall of Aegina, more than two thousand years passed without a single chelonian
coin being issued by any government anywhere. A medium size tin tortoise was minted in the 15th century in the Malacca Sultanate era by Ming Chinese. Great Britian, Scotland, in 1566 issued a 15 shillings coin with a stylized tortoise climbing a crowned palm tree (Seaby's S-5425). In 1609, Zeeland, Northern Netherlands produced a cooper jeton with turtle. Then, in 1934 the Fiji Islands began issuing six-pence pieces bearing a representation of a Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). This was the beginning of the modern era of turtle coins.
II. MODERN TURTLE COINS
Modern coins bearing representations of turtles and tortoises are listed below. The
numbers preceding each description are the catalog numbers from the Standard Catalog of
World Coins (See bibliography).
Paper money bearing representations of turtles and tortoises are listed below. The
numbers preceding each description are the catalog numbers from the Standard Catalog of
World Paper Money, Volume 2: Modern Issues 1961-1995. (See bibliography).
ANTIGUA & Barbuda
P-?, nd, $30, Green Turtle (23k gold)
ARUBA
P-6, 1990, 5 Florin, Green Turtle
BAHAMAS
P-46b, 1984, $10, Sea Turtle
BERMUDA
P-28, 1982, 1984, 100 Dollars, Green Turtle
P-33a, 1989, 100 Dollars, Green Turtle
P-64b, 2000, 50 Dollars, Sea Turtle
BRAZIL
P-249, 2001, 2 Reais, Sea Turtles
CAMBODIA
P-16a, 1973, 500 Riels, Small Turtle in Design
CAYMAN ISLANDS
P-1, 1972, 1 Dollar, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-2, 1972, 5 Dollars, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-3, 1972, 10 Dollars, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-4, 1972, 25 Dollars, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-5, 1974, 1 Dollar, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-6, 1974, 5 Dollars, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-7, 1974, 10 Dollars, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-8, 1974, 25 Dollars, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-9, 1974, 40 Dollars, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-10, 1974, 50 Dollars, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-11, 1974, 100 Dollars, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-12, 1991, 5 Dollars, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-13, 1991, 10 Dollars, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-14, 1991, 25 Dollars, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-15, 1991, 100 Dollars, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-16, 1996, 1 Dollar, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-17, 1996, 5 Dollars, Turtle on Coat of Arms, and Watermark
P-24, 1998, $25 Dollars, Gold foil turtle
COMOROS
P-13, 1997, 2500 Francs, Sea Turtle
P-?, 2006, 10,000 Francs, Sea Turtle
COOK ISLAND
P-5, 1987, 20 Dollars, Turtle Shell
P-7, 1992, 3 Dollars, Sea Turtle in Watermark
P-8, 1992, 10 Dollars, Sea Turtle in Watermark
P-9, 1992, 20 Dollars, Sea Turtle in Watermark
P-10, 1992, 50 Dollars, Sea Turtle in Watermark
CYPRUS
P-59, 1997, 10 pounds, Sea Turtle
EAST CARIBBEAN STATES
P-15 a-v, 1965, 20 Dollars, Green Turtles
P-26 "A", 1993, 5 Dollars, Sea Turtle
P-27 "K", 1993, 10 Dollars, Sea Turtle
P-28 "A", 1993, 20 Dollars, Sea Turtle
P-29,"D", 1993, 50 Dollars, Sea Turtle
P-30 "A", 1993, 100 Dollars, Sea Turtle
P-32 "K", 10 Dollars, Sea Turtle
P-33 "A", $20 Dollars, Sea Turtle
P-34 "V", $50 Dollars, Sea Turtle
P-35 "A", 100 Dollars, Sea Turtle
ECUADOR
P-126a, 1987, 5000 Sucre, Galapagos Tortoises
FIJI
P-94, 2000, $2, Turtle
FRENCH WEST AFRICA
P-47, 1956, 500 Francs, Turtle
GALAPAGOS
p-?, 2009, 500 Sucres, Galapagos Tortoise
GHANA
P-11, 1969, 5 Cedis, Stylized Turtle
GUATEMALA
P-81, 1992, 5 Quetzales, Styized Sea Turtle Symbol (formerly P-133)
HONG KONG
P-279a, 1985, 20 Dollars, Mythical Turtle
P-285a, 1993, 20 Dollars, Mythical Turtle
ITALY
P-105a, 1979, 5.000 Lire, Turtles on Fountain Statue
KOREA, SOUTH
P-13, ND (1953), 10 Won, Medieval Tortoise Warship
P-14, ND (1953), 100 Won, Medieval Tortoise Warship
P-15, ND (1953), 1000 Won, Medieval Tortoise Warship
P-33, ND (1962-1965), 10 Won, Tortoise Ship
P-39, ND (1966), 500 Won, Tortoise Ship
P-43, ND (1973), 500 Won, Tortoise Ship
M19, ND (Series III, c. 1971), 25 Cents, Turtle with Crest Seal
MADAGASCAR
P-77, 1993, 2500 Francs, Radiated Tortoises
P-79, 10,000 Francs, Radiated Tortoises
P-89, 2004, 1.000 Ara, Radiated Tortoise
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
P-?, 2007, 5 Kina, Tortoise shell bracelet
SEYCHELLES
Notes depicting a Coat of Arms show a small Aldabra Tortoise.
P-11,12, 13 Aldadra tortoise on reverse
P-15 a-b, 1968,1974, 10 Rupees, Hawksbill Turtle
P-18 a-d, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975, 100 Rupees, Aldabra Tortoises
P-20, 1977, 20 Rupees, Hawksbill Turtle
P-25, ND, 50 Rupees, Hawksbill Turtle
P-30, ND (1983), 50 Rupees, Hawksbill Turtle
P-32, 1989, 10 Rupees, Small Stylized Sea Turtle
P-33, 1989, 25 Rupees, Small Stylized Sea Turtle
P-34, 1989, 50 Rupees, Small Stylized Sea Turtle
P-35, 1989, 100 Rupees, Small Stylized Sea Turtle
P-36, 1998, 10 Rupees, Sea Turtle with Coat of Arms, emblem and watermark
P-39, 1998, 100 Rupees, Giant Tortoise with Coat of Arms, emblem and watermark
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Notes depicting a Coat of Arms show a small sea turtle.
P-13, 1986 $2, Small Sea Turtle on Coat of Arms
P-14, $5, Small Sea Turtle on Coat of Arms
P-15, $10, Small Sea Turtle on Coat of Arms
P-16, $20, Small Sea Turtle on Coat of Arms
P-18, 1997, $2, Small Sea Turtle on Coat of Arms
P-19, 1997, $5, Small Sea Turtle on Coat of Arms
P-20, 1997, $10, Small Sea Turtle on Coat of Arms
P-21, 1997, $20, Small Sea Turtle on Coat of Arms
ST. THOMAS and PRINCE
P-54, 1977, 500 Dobras, Green Turtle
P-58, 1982, 500 Dobras, Green Turtle
P-61, 1989, 500 Dobras, Green Turtle
P-63, 1993, 500 Dobras, Green Turtle
VENEZULA
P-?, 2008, 20 Bolivores, Hawksbill
IV. BIBLIOGRAPHY
The following sources were used in compiling this checklist:
1. Alexander, David T. 1976. "Turtle on coins date back 24 centuries". Coin World. May 26.
2. Bruce, Colin R. and George S. Cuhaj (Editors). 1997. World Paper Money: Volume 3 Modern Issues 1961-1997. Krause Publications. Iola, WI.
3. Fagerlie, Joan. 1964. "Monies in Antiquity". Natural History Magazine. 73:(1), pp.20-25.
4. Green, Ken. 2009. "More than 30 nations put turtles on their coins". The Western Pond Turtle. 1:(1), pp.4-5.
5. Kornafel, Andy. 1979. "Turtle notes, coins form attractive group". Coin World. August 15. p. 60.
6. Krause, Chester L. and Clifford Mishler. 1991. Standard Catalog of World Coins. 19th edition. Krause Publications.
7. Marshall, Geraldine and Frank Du Pre'. 1969. "Turtles in Art and Legend -- Part V. Mythology, Folklore, and Superstition". International Turtle and Tortoise Society Journal. 3:(1), pp.15-22.
8. Obst, Fritz Jurgen. 1986. Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins. St. Martin's Press. pp. 178-181.
9. Rainey, Dennis G. 1989. "Turtle Talk". World Coin News. 16:(26), pp. 22-23.
10. Rainey, Dennis G. 1997. "Turtles are Popular with Topical Collectors". World Coin News. 24:(7), pp.62-65.
KM-?, 2005, 2 Euro, Brass Copper Nickel, Green Turtle
Mi Casa