Molon Labe Type VI 2 oz Silver Round

A mounted Spartan warrior charges into battle on this two-ounce .999 fine silver round from Intaglio Mint. With spear in hand and his horse carrying him into the action, 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 VI artwork adds motion to that enduring theme. Horse and rider create a sweeping battle scene, with the warrior preparing to strike an opponent. The composition is an artistic interpretation of defiance, rather than a documented reconstruction of Leonidas at Thermopylae.

Design Details

• Obverse: A soldier in Spartan regalia rides a horse through battle, preparing to drive his spear toward an enemy. “MOLON LABE” follows the upper circumference.
• Reverse: The high-relief Intaglio Mint logo appears on a radial burst within a stippled border. “TWO TROY OUNCES,” “.999 FINE SILVER” and the date “2023” complete 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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