Molon Labe Type IV 2 oz Silver Round
A Spartan warrior faces an imposing enemy force on this two-ounce .999 fine silver round from Intaglio Mint. With spear in hand and shield raised, 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 IV artwork gives that challenge a dramatic interpretation, placing a lone warrior before ranks of enemies and large elephants. This is a symbolic battlefield composition, rather than a documented reconstruction of the forces at Thermopylae.
Design Details
- Obverse: A soldier in Spartan regalia raises his shield and holds a spear while facing a large enemy force, including figures mounted on elephants. “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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