Molon Labe Type V 2 oz Silver Round
A wounded Spartan warrior fights on in the heat of battle on this two-ounce .999 fine silver round from Intaglio Mint. With spear in hand and an enemy within reach, the design gives form to one of antiquity’s best-known expressions of defiance: Molon Labe, commonly translated as “come and take them.”
The Story Behind the Words
The saying is traditionally associated with Leonidas, king of Sparta, and the Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC. At Thermopylae, a narrow passage between the mountains and the coast, Spartans fought alongside other Greek allies against the army of Xerxes. The setting made the pass a powerful symbol of resistance against overwhelming numbers.
In his Sayings of Spartans, Plutarch records a demand from Xerxes that Leonidas surrender his arms, followed by the terse reply remembered as Molon Labe. Plutarch wrote centuries after the battle, so the exchange is best understood as a famous ancient literary tradition rather than a surviving eyewitness transcript.
That distinction leaves the phrase’s enduring appeal intact. Its brevity makes the challenge unmistakable, while its association with Thermopylae connects the words to a specific episode in Greek history. The Type V artwork gives that challenge a close, human focus. Its wounded warrior remains engaged in the struggle, turning the familiar phrase into an image of determination under pressure. The scene is an artistic interpretation of the theme, rather than a portrait of an identified historical encounter.
Design Details
- Obverse: A wounded soldier in Spartan regalia holds a spear while grasping an enemy soldier by the neck in the heat of battle. “MOLON LABE” follows the lower circumference.
- Reverse: A large Intaglio Mint logo sits within a plain border. “TWO TROY OUNCES” appears above, with “.999 FINE SILVER” and flanking stars completing the design.
Specifications
- Weight: 2 troy ounces
- Purity: .999 fine silver
- Diameter: 39 mm
- Thickness: Approximately 6 mm
- Edge: Reeded
- Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated
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