Molon Labe Type IX 1 oz Silver Round
King Leonidas and his soldiers prepare for a last stand on this one-ounce .999 fine silver round from Intaglio Mint. With shields raised, spears ready and arrows in flight, 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 IX artwork places collective resolve at the heart of the scene. Raised shields and ready spears link the defenders together, while incoming arrows fill the space around them. It is a modern interpretation of the last-stand theme that has made Thermopylae such an enduring subject in art and storytelling.
Design Details
- Obverse: King Leonidas and his soldiers ready themselves for a last stand, with shields raised, spears prepared and arrows flying. “MOLON LABE” follows the lower circumference.
- Reverse: The high-relief Intaglio Mint logo sits on a radial burst within a stippled border. “ONE TROY OUNCE” appears above, with “.999 FINE SILVER” and flanking stars completing the design.
Specifications
- Weight: 1 troy ounce
- Purity: .999 fine silver
- Diameter: 39 mm
- Thickness: 3.10 mm
- Edge: Reeded
- Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated
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