.gif)
Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Greece)
Encyclopedia
Euro gold and silver commemorative coins are special euro coins
minted
and issued by member states of the Eurozone
, mainly in gold
and silver
, although other precious metal
s are also used in rare occasions. Greece
was one of the first twelve countries in the Eurozone that introduced the euro (€)
on 1 January 2002. Since 2003, the Mint of Greece have been minting both normal issues of Greek euro coins
, which are intended for circulation, and commemorative euro coins in gold and silver.
These special coins have a legal tender
only in Greece, unlike the normal issues of the Greek euro coins, which have a legal tender in every country of the Eurozone. This means that the commemorative coins made of gold and silver cannot be used as money in other countries. Furthermore, as their bullion value generally vastly exceeds their face value, these coins are not intended to be used as means of payment at all—although it remains possible. For this reason, they are usually named Collectors' coins.
The coins usually commemorate
the anniversaries
of historical events
or draw attention to current events of special importance. Greece mints four of these coins on average per year, mainly in silver, with a typical face value of €10. However, to celebrate the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece minted almost three times more than normal number of coins in 2003 and 2004, in both gold and silver.
, which are coins designated for circulation and do have legal tender status in all countries of the Eurozone.
The following table shows the number of coins minted per year. In the first section, the coins are grouped by the metal used, while in the second section they are grouped by their face value.
Euro coins
There are eight euro coin denominations, ranging from one cent to two euros . The coins first came into use in 2002. They have a common reverse, portraying a map of Europe, but each country in the eurozone has its own design on the obverse, which means that each coin has a variety of different...
minted
Mint (coin)
A mint is an industrial facility which manufactures coins for currency.The history of mints correlates closely with the history of coins. One difference is that the history of the mint is usually closely tied to the political situation of an era...
and issued by member states of the Eurozone
Eurozone
The eurozone , officially called the euro area, is an economic and monetary union of seventeen European Union member states that have adopted the euro as their common currency and sole legal tender...
, mainly in gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
and silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
, although other precious metal
Precious metal
A precious metal is a rare, naturally occurring metallic chemical element of high economic value.Chemically, the precious metals are less reactive than most elements, have high lustre, are softer or more ductile, and have higher melting points than other metals...
s are also used in rare occasions. Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
was one of the first twelve countries in the Eurozone that introduced the euro (€)
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
on 1 January 2002. Since 2003, the Mint of Greece have been minting both normal issues of Greek euro coins
Greek euro coins
Greek euro coins feature a unique design for each of the eight coins. They were all designed by Georgios Stamatopoulos with the minor coins depicting Greek ships, the middle ones portraying famous Greeks and the two large denominations showing images of Greek history and mythology. All designs...
, which are intended for circulation, and commemorative euro coins in gold and silver.
These special coins have a legal tender
Legal tender
Legal tender is a medium of payment allowed by law or recognized by a legal system to be valid for meeting a financial obligation. Paper currency is a common form of legal tender in many countries....
only in Greece, unlike the normal issues of the Greek euro coins, which have a legal tender in every country of the Eurozone. This means that the commemorative coins made of gold and silver cannot be used as money in other countries. Furthermore, as their bullion value generally vastly exceeds their face value, these coins are not intended to be used as means of payment at all—although it remains possible. For this reason, they are usually named Collectors' coins.
The coins usually commemorate
Commemorative coin
Commemorative coins are coins that were issued to commemorate some particular event or issue. Most world commemorative coins were issued from the 1960s onward, although there are numerous examples of commemorative coins of earlier date. Such coins have a distinct design with reference to the...
the anniversaries
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
of historical events
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
or draw attention to current events of special importance. Greece mints four of these coins on average per year, mainly in silver, with a typical face value of €10. However, to celebrate the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece minted almost three times more than normal number of coins in 2003 and 2004, in both gold and silver.
Summary
As of 27 October 2008, 36 variations of Greek commemorative coins have been minted: 15 in 2003, 12 in 2004, one in 2005, three in 2006, four in 2007 and one in 2008 so far. These special high-value commemorative coins are not to be confused with €2 commemorative coins€2 commemorative coins
€2 commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the eurozone since 2004 as legal tender in all eurozone member states. The coins typically commemorate the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of special importance...
, which are coins designated for circulation and do have legal tender status in all countries of the Eurozone.
The following table shows the number of coins minted per year. In the first section, the coins are grouped by the metal used, while in the second section they are grouped by their face value.
| Year | Issues | By metal | By face value | |||||
| gold | silver | Others | €200 | €100 | €20 | €10 | ||
| 2003 | 15 | |||||||
| 2004 | 12 | |||||||
| 2005 | 1 | |||||||
| 2006 | 3 | |||||||
| 2007 | 4 | |||||||
| 2008 | 1 | |||||||
| Total | 36 | 9 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 26 |
| > |
2003 coinage
| Palace of Knossos Knossos Knossos , also known as Labyrinth, or Knossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and probably the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square... |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (Gold) | Quantity: 28,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 3 March 2003 | Diameter: 25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) | Weight: 10 g (0.35273962105112 oz; 0.321507463618939 ozt) | Issue price: €440 | |
The Minoan civilization Minoan civilization The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from approximately the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of the British archaeologist Arthur Evans... (2600-1100 BC) developed on the island of Crete Crete Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits... . The Palace of Minos at Knossos Knossos Knossos , also known as Labyrinth, or Knossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and probably the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square... , was the economic and administrative center; it also had a sacred character. The palace, which is the subject of the first gold coin of the 2004 Summer Olympics 2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team... , is noteworthy for its many well preserved interior wall paintings depicting social life in the Minoan period including the famous wall painting "Taurokatharpsia" (bull vaulting), an ancient form of bullfighting Bullfighting Bullfighting is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Latin American countries , in which one or more bulls are baited in a bullring for sport and entertainment... . A view of the monument can be seen on the obverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... of the coin. The reverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... , similarly to all coins of the series, features two concentric rings. The outer ring portrays 12 stars, a design motif characteristic of euro coins Euro coins There are eight euro coin denominations, ranging from one cent to two euros . The coins first came into use in 2002. They have a common reverse, portraying a map of Europe, but each country in the eurozone has its own design on the obverse, which means that each coin has a variety of different... . The inner ring portrays the face value of €100, an olive branch around the Athens 2004 logo, the five Olympic circles Olympic symbols The Olympic symbols are icons, flags and symbols used by the International Olympic Committee to promote the Olympic Games. Some—such as the flame, fanfare, and theme—are more common during Olympic competition, but others, such as the flag, can be seen throughout the year.-Motto:The Olympic motto is... , and the Anthemion Flower Palmette The palmette is a motif in decorative art which, in its most characteristic expression, resembles the fan-shaped leaves of a palm tree. It has an extremely long history, originating in Ancient Egypt with a subsequent development through the art of most of Eurasia, often in forms that bear... - the symbol of the Greek Mint. |
||||
| Discus Discus throw The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus... |
||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 3 March 2003 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €40-€45 |
|
| Discus throw Discus throw The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus... ing has remained virtually unchanged in the 28 centuries of its history. It is considered one of the most "noble" sporting events, since it did not have any direct connection with military exercises or farm work. In antiquity it formed part of the pentathlon Pentathlon A pentathlon is a contest featuring five different events. The name is derived from Greek: combining the words pente and -athlon . The first pentathlon was documented in Ancient Greece and was part of the Ancient Olympic Games... . On the obverse of the coin a modern athlete is seen in the foreground in a half-turned position, while in the background an ancient discus thrower has been captured in a lively bending motion, with the discus high above his head, creating a vivid representation of the sport. The reverse, similarly to all coins of the series, features two concentric rings. The outer ring portrays 12 stars, a design motif characteristic of euro coins. The inner ring portrays the face value of €10, an olive branch around the Athens 2004 logo, the five Olympic circles, and the Anthemion Flower - the symbol of the Greek Mint. |
||||
| Running | ||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 3 March 2003 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €40-€45 |
|
| Track and field athletics have their roots in the history of Ancient Greece Ancient Greece Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the... . The first of the Ancient Olympic Games in 776 BC included a 192.2 m (210.19 yd) sprint Sprint (race) Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other... known as the one stadium race (equivalent to today's 200 meters sprint 200 metres A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first... ). It was the only athletic event during the first 13 Olympiads until 728 BC. In the obverse of the coin, a modern athlete figure appears in the foreground, shown in the starting position, while in the background two ancient runners are carved in a manner that gives the appearance of a coin that is "worn" by time. This scene originally appeared on a black-figure vase of the 6th century BC. |
||||
| Crypt of Olympia Olympia, Greece Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC... |
||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (Gold) | Quantity: 28,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2 June 2003 | Diameter: 25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) | Weight: 10 g (0.35273962105112 oz; 0.321507463618939 ozt) | Issue price: €440 Market value: €398 |
|
| The entire area of Olympia Olympia, Greece Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC... is occupied by temple Temple A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out... s, altar Altar An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship... s, gymnasia Gymnasium (ancient Greece) The gymnasium in ancient Greece functioned as a training facility for competitors in public games. It was also a place for socializing and engaging in intellectual pursuits. The name comes from the Ancient Greek term gymnós meaning "naked". Athletes competed in the nude, a practice said to... , stadia Stadium A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event... , portico Portico A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls... es, guest houses, treasuries of various Greek cities and a great number of statues. The first games in Olympia are believed to have been held in 776 BC, a date that thereafter constituted the basis for the calculation of time in antiquity. The Olympiad Olympiad An Olympiad is a period of four years, associated with the Olympic Games of Classical Greece. In the Hellenistic period, beginning with Ephorus, Olympiads were used as calendar epoch.... was a period of four years, counting the interval between two Olympic Games. Initially local games, they soon became Peloponnesian Peloponnese The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth... and then pan-Hellenic. They acquired an official status, since, whenever in progress, a military truce was declared and any hostilities between rival Greek city-state City-state A city-state is an independent or autonomous entity whose territory consists of a city which is not administered as a part of another local government.-Historical city-states:... s ceased. One of the most important monuments of Olympia is the Crypt, which has been selected as main motif on this coin on the obverse, a long and narrow vaulted passage through which the athletes and judges entered the Stadium, signifying the opening of the games. |
||||
| Javelin Javelin throw The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon... |
||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2 June 2003 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €33-€45 |
|
| The javelin was one of the pentathlon sports of the ancient Olympic Games and took on two forms (throwing the javelin for distance and throwing the javelin at a target). The difference between the ancient and the modern javelin is the use (in antiquity) of a thong, or strap to propel the javelin. The event of the javelin throw Javelin throw The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon... was re-introduced at the 1908 Summer Olympics 1908 Summer Olympics The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games... in London for men only. It was later extended in the 1932 Summer Olympics 1932 Summer Olympics The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations... in Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, California Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California... for both, men and women. In the obverse of the coin, as a main motif, a modern athlete figure appears in the foreground, running towards the starting point of the throw. In the background, an ancient athlete is shown in preparation for the throw. |
||||
| Long jump Long jump The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point... |
||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2 June 2003 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €32-€45 |
|
| Long jump Long jump The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point... is also one of the classical track events, drawing its roots from ancient times. In antiquity only the long jump without momentum existed, where the athlete had to hold halteres Halteres (ancient Greece) Halteres were a type of dumbbells used in Ancient Greece. In ancient Greek sports, halteres were used as lifting weights, and also as weights in their version of the long jump, which was probably a set of three jumps. Halteres were held in both hands to allow an athlete to jump a greater distance;... (dumbbell Dumbbell The dumbbell, a type of free weight, is a piece of equipment used in weight training. It can be used individually or in pairs .-History:... s) in each hand, which he swung vigorously to help him achieve momentum, and then dropped behind him before landing. The men's long jump was for the first time on the programme of the 1896 Summer Olympics 1896 Summer Olympics The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Athens, Greece, from April 6 to April 15, 1896. It was the first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era... in Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... , while the women's on the programme of the 1948 Summer Olympics 1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin... in London. In its modern version it assumes 4 forms: simple jump Long jump The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point... , triple jump Triple jump The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a... , high jump High jump The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years.... and pole vault Pole vault Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts... . The obverse of the coin portrays a modern athlete at the moment he is touching the ground, while the ancient athlete in the background is shown while starting off his jump, as he is seen on a black-figure vase of the 5th century BC. |
||||
| The Panathenean Stadium Panathinaiko Stadium The Panathinaiko or Panathenaic Stadium , also known as the Kallimarmaro , is an athletic stadium in Athens that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896... |
||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (Gold) | Quantity: 28,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 1 September 2003 | Diameter: 25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) | Weight: 10 g (0.35273962105112 oz; 0.321507463618939 ozt) | Issue price: €440 Market value: €398 |
|
| The Panathinaiko Stadium Panathinaiko Stadium The Panathinaiko or Panathenaic Stadium , also known as the Kallimarmaro , is an athletic stadium in Athens that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896... is a marble stadium (Kallimarmaron) located on the Ardettos hill in Athens. The Panathenaic Games Panathenaic Games The Panathenaic Games were held every four years in Athens in Ancient Greece since 566 BC. They continued into the third century AD. These Games incorporated religious festival, ceremony , athletic competitions, and cultural events hosted within a stadium.-Religious festival:The games were part of... were held in this stadium, believed to have been built around 330 BC. In 1896, when the first Olympic Games of the modern era 1896 Summer Olympics The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Athens, Greece, from April 6 to April 15, 1896. It was the first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era... were to be held, the Greek public benefactor George Averoff George Averoff George M. Averoff , alternately Georgios Averof , was a Greek businessman and philanthropist of Aromanian origin.... undertook the enormous expenses for the restoration of the stadium. Architect Anastasios Metaxas Anastasios Metaxas Anastasios Metaxas was a Greek architect and shooter.Metaxas is best known for being the architect chosen by George Averoff to restore the Panathinaiko Stadium for the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, the birth of the modern Olympic movement, while the design was from Ernst Ziller. He also competed... was in charge of the reconstruction. The inauguration of the stadium was celebrated on 25 March 1896 (Greece Independence Day Independence Day An Independence Day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's assumption of independent statehood, usually after ceasing to be a colony or part of another nation or state, and more rarely after the end of a military occupation... ), together with the opening of the first Olympic Games of modern times. This stadium was selected as the main motif for this coin. |
||||
| Horse Riding Equestrianism Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses... |
||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 1 September 2003 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €40-€45 |
|
| Equestrianism Equestrianism Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses... (horse riding) is a noble sport of great tradition, based on the relationship between humans and horse Horse The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today... s. Two Equestrian events, chariot racing Chariot racing Chariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine sports. Chariot racing was often dangerous to both driver and horse as they frequently suffered serious injury and even death, but generated strong spectator enthusiasm... and horse racing Horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC... , were first included in the 25th ancient Olympic Games competition schedule, in 680 BC. Equestrian events developed primary from training horses in warfare Horses in warfare The first use of horses in warfare occurred over 5,000 years ago. The earliest evidence of horses ridden in warfare dates from Eurasia between 4000 and 3000 BC. A Sumerian illustration of warfare from 2500 BC depicts some type of equine pulling wagons... . Many reports point to the fact that ancient Greeks used exercises similar to the modern Dressage events, in order to train their horses to move accurately and precisely in the battlefields and in competition. Many Olympic coins were struck in antiquity on the occasion of victories in equestrian events. On the composition of the obverse of this coin, the modern horseman is pictured as he jumps over an obstacle, while in the background the ancient horseman is inspired by a representation on a black-figure vase of the 5th century BC. |
||||
| Relays Relay race During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games... |
||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 1 September 2003 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €33.50-€45 |
|
| Relay race Relay race During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games... s can be traced to the ancient custom of sending messages via a series of couriers (skytalodromoi or "runners with a message stick"). Each courier handed the stick to the next courier until its destination was safely reached. In the Olympic relay race each country has four runners. Each runner covers a quarter of the distance, called a leg, then passes a rigid hollow tube called a baton to a succeeding team member. Changeovers must be accomplished within a zone extending 18 m (20 yd) from the beginning of each baton exchange area. In the obverse of the coin three modern athletes run, holding their batons while in the background three ancient athletes are shown running a race known as the dolichos Dolichos (running race) Dolichos or Dolichus in ancient Olympics was a long-race introduced in 720 BC. Separate accounts of the race present conflicting evidence as to the actual length of the dolichos. However, the average stated length of the race was approximately 18-24 laps, or about three miles... (a semi-endurance race of approximately 3,800 meters distance). |
||||
| Olympic Village Zappeion Zappeion The Zappeion is a building in the National Gardens of Athens in the heart of Athens, Greece. It is generally used for meetings and ceremonies, both official and private.-Constructing the Zappeion:... |
||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (Gold) | Quantity: 28,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 3 November 2003 | Diameter: 25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) | Weight: 10 g (0.35273962105112 oz; 0.321507463618939 ozt) | Issue price: €440 Market value: €398 |
|
| The Zappeion Zappeion The Zappeion is a building in the National Gardens of Athens in the heart of Athens, Greece. It is generally used for meetings and ceremonies, both official and private.-Constructing the Zappeion:... , which is the subject of the fourth gold coin of the series, is related to the first Modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. At that time the lack of infrastructure and facilities for the participants required the use of the mansion as an "Olympic Village Olympic Village An Olympic Village is an accommodation centre built for an Olympic Games, usually within an Olympic Park or elsewhere in a host city. Olympic Villages are built to house all participating athletes, as well as officials, athletic trainers, and other staff. Since the Munich Massacre at the 1972... ". The Zappeion was an Athenian mansion built at the expense of the Greek public benefactor Evangelos Zappas Evangelos Zappas Evangelis or Evangelos Zappas was a Greek-Romanian businessman and philanthropist. He is recognized today as a founder of the Olympic Games, who sponsored the Olympic Games of 1859, 1870, and 1875, and preceded the Olympic Games that came under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee... (1800–1865) to serve as the venue for Greek artistic, agricultural and industrial fairs. In order to create a garden around the building, Charilaos Trikoupis Charilaos Trikoupis Charilaos Trikoupis was a Greek politician who served as a Prime Minister of Greece seven times from 1875 until 1895.... decided to relocate the Protestant Protestantism Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the... cemetery Cemetery A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed... that was situated there. The Zappeion, designed by the architect Baron Theophil von Hansen, was built between 1874 and 1888. It was originally given the name 'Olympia' and acquired its present name after the death of the two brothers Evangelos and Konstantinos Zappas, whose busts – created by the well-known Greek sculptors I. Kossos and G. Vroutos respectively – stand at the entrance of the building. |
||||
| Gymnastics Rhythmic gymnastics Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which individuals or teams of competitors manipulate one or two pieces of apparatus: rope, clubs, hoop, ball, ribbon and Free . An individual athlete only manipulates 1 apparatus at a time... |
||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 3 November 2003 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €39-€45 |
|
| Rhythmic gymnastics Rhythmic gymnastics Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which individuals or teams of competitors manipulate one or two pieces of apparatus: rope, clubs, hoop, ball, ribbon and Free . An individual athlete only manipulates 1 apparatus at a time... is one of the oldest sports in the world. In ancient Greece, three distinct programmes of gymnastic exercise were developed: one for the maintenance of good physical condition, another for military training, and a third as part of the conditioning regimen for athletes. Modern rhythmic gymnastics were developed in the late 1950s. In this "for females only" sport, disciplines are characterized by the use of accessories such as a ball, clubs, hoop and rope, and ribbons, to the accompaniment of music. The obverse of the coin represents a young woman holding a ribbon, executing a graceful movement, while in the background, two female athletes from antiquity execute a series of acrobatic interactions. The scene was taken from a terra cotta Terra cotta Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color... in Southern Italy. |
||||
| Swimming | ||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 3 November 2003 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €40-€45 |
|
| Swimming was highly esteemed in both ancient Greece and Ancient Rome Ancient Rome Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world.... , as shown on vases and wall paintings dating back to the 17th century BC. Swimming was extremely important in the training of warriors. In modern times competitive swimming was popuralized in the Kingdom of Great Britain Kingdom of Great Britain The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign... at the end of the 18th century and the first modern Olympic Games, held in Athens, Greece, in 1896, included swimming races. On the obverse of this coin a woman swimmer is depicted, preparing to dive from the starting platform, while in the background another woman athlete is just about to dive into the water in a scene from an Archaic bronze statuette. |
||||
| Greece EU Presidency | ||||
| Designer: - | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 50,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2003 | Diameter: 28.25 mm (1.11 in) Thickness: 1.92 mm (0.0755905511811024 in) |
Weight: 9.75 g (0.343921130524842 oz; 0.313469777028465 ozt) | Market value: €32-€35 | |
| This coin was issued to commemorate the Treaty of Accession 2003 Treaty of Accession 2003 The Treaty of Accession 2003 was the agreement between the European Union and ten countries , concerning these countries' accession into the EU... , signed in Athens on 16 April 2003, with Greece holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union Presidency of the Council of the European Union The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the responsibility for the functioning of the Council of the European Union that rotates between the member states of the European Union every six months. The presidency is not a single president but rather the task is undertaken by a national... . The Treaty of Accession 2003 was the agreement between the European Union European Union The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958... and ten countries (Cyprus Cyprus Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the... , Czech Republic Czech Republic The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest.... , Estonia Estonia Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies... , Hungary Hungary Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The... , Latvia Latvia Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden... , Lithuania Lithuania Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark... , Malta Malta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... , Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... , Slovakia Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... , and Slovenia Slovenia Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of... ), concerning their accession into the EU. It entered into force on 1 May 2004, the day of the enlargement of the European Union Enlargement of the European Union The Enlargement of the European Union is the process of expanding the European Union through the accession of new member states. This process began with the Inner Six, who founded the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952... and, at the same time, it changed a number of points which were laid down in the original Treaty of Nice Treaty of Nice The Treaty of Nice was signed by European leaders on 26 February 2001 and came into force on 1 February 2003. It amended the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of Rome... . On the obverse of the coin, the logo of the Greek presidency, together with the words ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΠΡΟΕΔΡΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΥΡΩΠΑΙΚΗΣ ΕΝΩΣΗΣ on the top and "HELLENIC PRESIDENCY OF EU" on the bottom, is depicted. On the reverse, the National Emblem of Greece, sourrounded by the words ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ (Greek Democracy) and the face value of €10 is shown. |
||||
| 75th anniversary of Bank of Greece Bank of Greece The Bank of Greece is the nationalcentral bank of Greece, located in Athens on Panepistimiou Street, with several branches across the country. Founded in 1927... |
||||
| Designer: - | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €20 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 14,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 3 November 2003 | Diameter: 37 mm (1.46 in) | Weight: 31 g (1.09 oz; 0.99667313721871 ozt) | Market value: N/A | |
| 75th anniversary of Bank of Greece Bank of Greece The Bank of Greece is the nationalcentral bank of Greece, located in Athens on Panepistimiou Street, with several branches across the country. Founded in 1927... |
||||
| Designer: - | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €200 | Alloy: Au 999 (Gold) | Quantity: 1000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 3 November 2003 | Diameter: 37 mm (1.46 in) | Weight: 31 g (1.09 oz; 0.99667313721871 ozt) | Market value: N/A | |
| The Bank of Greece Bank of Greece The Bank of Greece is the nationalcentral bank of Greece, located in Athens on Panepistimiou Street, with several branches across the country. Founded in 1927... was established in 1927, a few years after World War I and the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922), by an Annex to the Geneva Protocol of 15 September 1927. It began operations on 14 May 1928, under the first Governor Alexandros Diomidis Alexandros Diomidis Alexandros Diomedes was a former governor of the Central Bank of Greece who became Prime Minister of Greece upon the death of Themistoklis Sophoulis.... and its 25th and 50th anniversaries (under Governors Georgios Mantzavinos and Xenophon Zolotas Xenophon Zolotas Xenophon Zolotas , was a Greek economist and served as an interim non-party Prime Minister of Greece.-Early life and career:Born in Athens in 1904, Zolotas studied economics at the University of Athens, and later studied in Leipzig and Paris. He came from a wealthy family of goldsmiths with roots... , respectively) were celebrated with pomp and circumstance. The official celebration of the Bank of Greece's 75th Anniversary was held on Monday, 3 November in the Athens Concert Hall Athens Concert Hall The Athens Concert Hall is a concert hall located in Athens, on Vassilissis Sofias Avenue.... , in the presence of Konstantinos Stephanopoulos, President of Greece President of Greece The President of the Hellenic Republic , colloquially referred to in English as the President of Greece, is the head of state of Greece. The office of the President of the Republic was established after the Greek republic referendum, 1974 and formally by the Constitution of Greece in 1975. The... . These coins were minted celebrating the occasion; they are very rare coins as they were distributed only among bank employees and officials. On the obverse of the coin, the log of the bank in a shape of a waving flag is depicted. Around the flag, the words TΡΑΠΕΖΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ (Bank of Greece) and the years of foundation of the bank (1928–2003) are shown. On the reverse, the face value of the coin is printed; around it the words ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ (Greek Democracy) can be seen. |
||||
2004 coinage
| The Acropolis of Athens Acropolis of Athens The Acropolis of Athens or Citadel of Athens is the best known acropolis in the world. Although there are many other acropoleis in Greece, the significance of the Acropolis of Athens is such that it is commonly known as The Acropolis without qualification... |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (Gold) | Quantity: 28,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 1 April 2004 | Diameter: 25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) | Weight: 10 g (0.35273962105112 oz; 0.321507463618939 ozt) | Issue price: €440 Market value: €398 |
|
| The Acropolis of Athens Acropolis of Athens The Acropolis of Athens or Citadel of Athens is the best known acropolis in the world. Although there are many other acropoleis in Greece, the significance of the Acropolis of Athens is such that it is commonly known as The Acropolis without qualification... was selected as the main motif of the obverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... of this coin. It encompasses a collection of ancient Greek monuments, including the Parthenon Parthenon The Parthenon is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their virgin patron. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC, although... , the Erechtheum Erechtheum The Erechtheion is an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens in Greece.-Architecture:The temple as seen today was built between 421 and 406 BC. Its architect may have been Mnesicles, and it derived its name from a shrine dedicated to the legendary Greek hero Erichthonius... , the Propylaea Propylaea A Propylaea, Propylea or Propylaia is any monumental gateway based on the original Propylaea that serves as the entrance to the Acropolis in Athens... , the Temple of Athena Nike, ... among others. The Acropolis represents all the periods of the city that lies at its feet, since all the historical events of Athens unfolded and centered around this low rock. It was constructed between 447 BC and 432 BC and was originally painted in vivid reds and blues, but the marble pillars gradually lost their color and faded to white. It is also directly relevant to athletic events since during the Panathenaic Festival a torch race took place at night, starting from the altar of Prometheus Prometheus In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan, the son of Iapetus and Themis, and brother to Atlas, Epimetheus and Menoetius. He was a champion of mankind, known for his wily intelligence, who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals... in the Academy and ending before the altar of Athena Athena In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is... on the top of the rock. The reverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... , similarly to the set of coins of 2003, features two concentric rings. The outer ring portrays 12 stars, a design motif characteristic of euro coins Euro coins There are eight euro coin denominations, ranging from one cent to two euros . The coins first came into use in 2002. They have a common reverse, portraying a map of Europe, but each country in the eurozone has its own design on the obverse, which means that each coin has a variety of different... . The inner ring portrays the face value of €100, an olive branch around the Athens 2004 logo, the five Olympic circles Olympic symbols The Olympic symbols are icons, flags and symbols used by the International Olympic Committee to promote the Olympic Games. Some—such as the flame, fanfare, and theme—are more common during Olympic competition, but others, such as the flag, can be seen throughout the year.-Motto:The Olympic motto is... , and the Anthemion Flower Palmette The palmette is a motif in decorative art which, in its most characteristic expression, resembles the fan-shaped leaves of a palm tree. It has an extremely long history, originating in Ancient Egypt with a subsequent development through the art of most of Eurasia, often in forms that bear... - the symbol of the Greek Mint. |
||||
| Weightlifting | ||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 1 April 2004 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €39-€45 |
|
| Weightlifting is a sport based on the lifting of a series of progressively heavier metal weights. It is popular internationally, notably in Bulgaria Bulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... , Cuba Cuba The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city... , Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... , Greece Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... , Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... , the Post-Soviet states Post-Soviet states The post-Soviet states, also commonly known as the Former Soviet Union or former Soviet republics, are the 15 independent states that split off from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in its dissolution in December 1991... , Romania Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... , Turkey Turkey Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe... and the United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... . On the obverse of the coin, a weightlifter executes a snatch move (arase): he is standing and holding the weights above his head, while the ancient athlete in the background is attempting to lift two natural stones, in a portrayal inspired by that on a black-figure vase Black-figure pottery Black-figure pottery painting, also known as the black-figure style or black-figure ceramic is one of the most modern styles for adorning antique Greek vases. It was especially common between the 7th and 5th centuries BC, although there are specimens dating as late as the 2nd century BC... of the 6th/5th century BC. The reverse, similarly to the set of coins of 2003, features two concentric rings. The outer ring portrays 12 stars, a design motif characteristic of euro coins. The inner ring portrays the face value of €10, an olive branch around the Athens 2004 logo, the five Olympic circles, and the Anthemion Flower - the symbol of the Greek Mint. |
||||
| Wrestling Wrestling Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position... |
||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 1 April 2004 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €35-€45 |
|
| Wrestling Wrestling Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position... has been popular throughout recorded history. Early Egyptian Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh... and Babylonia Babylonia Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia , with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as a major power when Hammurabi Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as... n reliefs depict wrestlers using most of the holds known to the modern sport. In ancient Greece, Greek wrestling Greek wrestling Greek wrestling, also known as Ancient Greek wrestling and Pále , was the most popular organized sport in Ancient Greece. A point was scored when one player touched the ground with his back,hip,shoulder,or tapped out due to a submission-hold or was forced out of the wrestling-area... occupied a prominent place in legend and literature; wrestling competition was the supreme contest of the Olympic Games. On the obverse of the coin, a modern athlete applies a waist-hold on his opponent and prepares to throw him down to the ground, while in the background two ancient athletes are pictured in the stance known as akrocheirismos (finger-hold) and are pushing their heads against each other. |
||||
| Academy of Athens Academy of Athens (modern) The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy, and the highest research establishment in the country. It was established in 1926, and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education... |
||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (Gold) | Quantity: 28,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 31 May 2004 | Diameter: 25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) | Weight: 10 g (0.35273962105112 oz; 0.321507463618939 ozt) | Issue price: €440 Market value: €398 |
|
| The modern Academy of Athens Academy of Athens (modern) The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy, and the highest research establishment in the country. It was established in 1926, and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education... is the foremost intellectual institution of modern Greece with the promotion of the Arts and Sciences as its most basic mission. The first discussions regarding its establishment took place during meetings of the Greek National Assembly Greek National Assembly The Greek National Assemblies are representative bodies of the Greek people. During and in the direct aftermath of the Greek War of Independence , the name was used for the insurgents' proto-parliamentary assemblies... at Epidaurus Epidaurus Epidaurus was a small city in ancient Greece, at the Saronic Gulf. Two modern towns bear the name Epidavros : Palaia Epidavros and Nea Epidavros. Since 2010 they belong to the new municipality of Epidavros, part of the peripheral unit of Argolis... in 1826. The building, designed by the Danish architect Baron Theophil von Hansen, began construction in 1859 on a site ceded by the Petraki Monastery and the Athens municipality, with funds offered for the purpose by the Greek public benefactor, Simon Sinas. Hence, it is also known as the Sinaea Academia. The Academy began to operate in 1926, and is constituted by three departments, Exact Sciences, Fine Arts Letters and the Moral and Political Sciences. The Academy is the motif of the sixth gold Olympic coin of the series. The intention was to highlight the premise that in the city of Athena, the Olympic Games should not only be the most important athletic event, but also reflect equal importance toward intellectual and cultural activities. All three should be equivalent to the style and character of the city that was the birthplace and the matrix for the revival of the modern Olympic Games of 1896. |
||||
| Football | ||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 31 May 2004 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €45 |
|
| Football games were common in many parts of the world in ancient times with each culture playing a different form. Some 2,500 years ago the Chinese played a form of it called Cuju Cuju Cuju is an ancient code of football with similarities to association football. It is seen by some to be a forerunner of modern football and originated in China, and was also played in Korea, Japan and Vietnam.-History:... , in which they kicked a ball of stuffed leather. Natives of Polynesia Polynesia Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs... are known to have played a variation of the game with a ball made of bamboo fibres, while the Inuit Inuit The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language... had another form using a leather ball filled with moss. In most cases, the ball was a symbol for the Sun Sun The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields... and "conquering" it would ensure fertility and a good crop. The design of this coin represents a modern football player ready to hit the ball, his ancient counterpart demonstrates his technique by bouncing a ball on his thigh, his hands tied behind his back. The representation was taken from a 4th century BC. marble relief. |
||||
| Handball Team handball Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team... |
||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 31 May 2004 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €34-€45 |
|
| Team handball Team handball Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team... is one of the world's oldest sports and many civilizations and nations claim its origins as their own. Even Homer Homer In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is... describes the game in the Odyssey Odyssey The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature... . It was first introduced at the Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics 1936 Summer Olympics The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona... as an 11-a-side outdoor game. On the coin, the modern athlete directs the ball in his hands towards his target, while in the background the ancient athlete is just about to throw a ball, in a game known as cheirosphaira, in a representation taken from a black figure Black-figure pottery Black-figure pottery painting, also known as the black-figure style or black-figure ceramic is one of the most modern styles for adorning antique Greek vases. It was especially common between the 7th and 5th centuries BC, although there are specimens dating as late as the 2nd century BC... vase of the Archaic period. |
||||
| Torch Relay - Start Ceremony | ||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (Gold) | Quantity: 28,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2004 | Diameter: 25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) | Weight: 10 g (0.35273962105112 oz; 0.321507463618939 ozt) | Issue price: €440 Market value: €999 |
|
| The tradition of the relay of the Olympic Flame Olympic Flame The Olympic Flame or Olympic Torch is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus, its origins lie in ancient Greece, where a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. The fire was reintroduced at the 1928... , which culminates in the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony of each Games, dates from the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. To symbolize the link between the ancient and modern Olympic Games the flame is lit in a ceremony at Olympia, Greece, and then carried, by runners, to the Olympic site for that year. The lighting of the Olympic cauldron has become the most hallowed moment of each Olympic Games and is depicted on the first gold coin of the Torch Relay series. |
||||
| Torch Relay - Americas | ||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2004 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €999 |
|
| Torch Relay - Africa | ||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2004 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €999 |
|
| Torch Relay - Asia | ||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2004 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €999 |
|
| Torch Relay - Australia | ||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) | Quantity: 68,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2004 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Issue price: €44 Market value: €999 |
|
| The 2004 Summer Olympics torch relay was the first truly universal relay ever. The Olympic Flame started its journey at Ancient Olympia and was carried by 3600 torch bearers across 34 cities throughout the world. On 3 June 2004, the flame was carried to Australia, from there it travelled to Asia, to Africa and to the Americas Americas The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily... . It was the first time the Olympic Flame was transported to Africa and South America. The Flame then returned to Europe and reached its destination, Greece, on 9 July 2004. The four silver coins depict the Olympic Torch Relay from Europe to the other four continents. |
||||
| Torch Relay - Return Ceremony | ||||
| Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €100 | Alloy: Au 999 (Gold) | Quantity: 28,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2004 | Diameter: 25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) | Weight: 10 g (0.35273962105112 oz; 0.321507463618939 ozt) | Issue price: €440 Market value: €999 |
|
| The flame returned to Greece on 9 July 2004. In a symbolic torch relay 7700 torch bearers carried the flame across the Greek mainland and its islands. After 31 days, the Olympic Flame was returned to Attica Attica Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea... . On 13 August 2004, it entered the Olympic Stadium Olympic Stadium The Olympic Stadium is the name usually given to the big centrepiece stadium of the Summer Olympic Games. Traditionally, the opening and closing ceremonies and the track and field competitions are held in the Olympic Stadium. Many, though not all, of these venues actually contain the words Olympic... lighting the central altar which remained lit throughout the Games. This theme is depicted on the second gold coin. |
||||
2005 coinage
| National Park Olympus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designer: Georgios Stamatopoulos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 25,000 | Quality: BU | |
| Issued: 2005 | Diameter: 28.25 mm (1.11 in) | Weight: 9.75 g (0.343921130524842 oz; 0.313469777028465 ozt) | Market value: €62-€85 | |
| This coin was only issued as part of the 2005 annual set and will not be found in general circulation. In the obverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... , The National emblem of Greece National emblem of Greece The national emblem of Greece , also known as the coat of arms of Greece, consists of a blue escutcheon with a white cross totally surrounded by two laurel branches... between flowers is depicted. On the top edge 'Hellenic Republic' is written in the Greek alphabet Greek alphabet The Greek alphabet is the script that has been used to write the Greek language since at least 730 BC . The alphabet in its classical and modern form consists of 24 letters ordered in sequence from alpha to omega... . The face value of the coin is displayed along the lower edge. On the reverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... , the War of the Titans on Mount Olympus Mount Olympus Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, located on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, about 100 kilometres away from Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Mount Olympus has 52 peaks. The highest peak Mytikas, meaning "nose", rises to 2,917 metres... is portrayed along with flowering branches on the lower part of the coin. Above the scene is written, in Greek, 'National Park Olympus', while on the bottom of the coin, close to the edge, is the issuing year of 2005. |
||||
2006 coinage
| Olympia National Park - Zeus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designer: Georgios Stamatopoulos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 5,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2006 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Market value: €50-€95 | |
| In the obverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... , The National emblem of Greece National emblem of Greece The national emblem of Greece , also known as the coat of arms of Greece, consists of a blue escutcheon with a white cross totally surrounded by two laurel branches... between flowers is depicted. On the top edge 'Hellenic Republic' is written in the Greek alphabet Greek alphabet The Greek alphabet is the script that has been used to write the Greek language since at least 730 BC . The alphabet in its classical and modern form consists of 24 letters ordered in sequence from alpha to omega... . The face value of the coin is displayed along the lower edge. In Greek mythology Greek mythology Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece... , Zeus Zeus In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus... was the son of Cronus Cronus In Greek mythology, Cronus or Kronos was the leader and the youngest of the first generation of Titans, divine descendants of Gaia, the earth, and Uranus, the sky... and Rhea Rhea (mythology) Rhea was the Titaness daughter of Uranus, the sky, and Gaia, the earth, in Greek mythology. She was known as "the mother of gods". In earlier traditions, she was strongly associated with Gaia and Cybele, the Great Goddess, and was later seen by the classical Greeks as the mother of the Olympian... and the highest-ranking god among the Olympian gods Twelve Olympians The Twelve Olympians, also known as the Dodekatheon , in Greek mythology, were the principal deities of the Greek pantheon, residing atop Mount Olympus. Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, and Hades were siblings. Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Athena, Apollo, and Artemis were children of Zeus... . He was god of the sky and thunder and his attributes included thunder, the lightning bolt, the septer, and the eagle. Zeus (in Greek Dias) was the ruler of Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece and the home of the gods. In 1981 UNESCO UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations... declared Mount Olympus an "International Biosphere Reserve Biosphere reserve The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:... " and in 1987 it was declared a National Park of Greece. This is the main motif of the reverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... of this coin. |
||||
| Olympia National Park - Dion | ||||
| Designer: Georgios Stamatopoulos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 5,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2006 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Market value: €50-€98 | |
| In the obverse, The National emblem of Greece National emblem of Greece The national emblem of Greece , also known as the coat of arms of Greece, consists of a blue escutcheon with a white cross totally surrounded by two laurel branches... between flowers is depicted. On the top edge 'Hellenic Republic' is written in the Greek alphabet Greek alphabet The Greek alphabet is the script that has been used to write the Greek language since at least 730 BC . The alphabet in its classical and modern form consists of 24 letters ordered in sequence from alpha to omega... . The face value of the coin is displayed along the lower edge. Mount Olympus Mount Olympus Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, located on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, about 100 kilometres away from Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Mount Olympus has 52 peaks. The highest peak Mytikas, meaning "nose", rises to 2,917 metres... is the highest mountain in Greece, its altitude ranging from 600 (near Litochoro Litochoro Litochoro is a town and a former municipality in the southern part of the Pieria regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Dio-Olympos, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is located at the base of Mount Olympus, on the western shore... , Pieria Prefecture) to 2,917 meters (at its highest peak, Pantheon or Mytikas). In 1981 UNESCO UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations... declared Mount Olympus an "International Biosphere Reserve Biosphere reserve The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:... " and in 1987 it was declared a National Park of Greece. Dion Dion, Greece Dion or Dio is a village and a former municipality in the Pieria regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipality Dio-Olympos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is best known for its archaeological site and archaeological museum. Zeus was honored at... , the village located at the foot of Mount Olympus, is best known for its museum and archaeological site. The Ancient municipality of Dion was a place of some prominence and owes its name to the important sanctuary dedicated to Zeus (Greek:"Dias"). This is the main motif of the reverse of this coin. |
||||
| Patras Patras Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens... |
||||
| Designer: Georgios Stamatopoulos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 20,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2006 | Diameter: 28.25 mm (1.11 in) Thickness: 1.92 mm (0.0755905511811024 in) |
Weight: 9.75 g (0.343921130524842 oz; 0.313469777028465 ozt) | Market value: €60 | |
| In 2006, the city of Patras Patras Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens... implemented a unique course which followed the history of Greek culture and development. Through music, drama, visual arts and dance, the capital of Achaea Achaea Achaea is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Greece. It is situated in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. The capital is Patras. The population exceeds 300,000 since 2001.-Geography:... took advantage of the historical opportunity of being appointed as European Capital of Culture European Capital of Culture The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by theEuropean Union for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong European dimension.... . This coin commemorates the event that signalled a new enlightened course for Patras and serves as a reminder of the fact that culture can stimulate the economy and promote development. On the obverse the logo for Patras 2006 around the words "European Capital of Culture" can be seen. In the reverse, a view of Patras walls with the Emblem of Greece, together with the face value of €10 can be observed. |
||||
2007 coinage
| 30th anniversary of the death of Maria Callas Maria Callas Maria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts... |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designer: Georgios Stamatopoulos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 25 (silver) | Quantity: 25,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2007 | Diameter: 28.25 mm (1.11 in) Thickness: 1.92 mm (0.0755905511811024 in) |
Weight: 9.75 g (0.343921130524842 oz; 0.313469777028465 ozt) | Market value: €40 | |
| Maria Callas Maria Callas Maria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts... (1923–1977), American-born Greek Greeks The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world.... operatic soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... , was the preeminent prima donna Prima donna Originally used in opera or Commedia dell'arte companies, "prima donna" is Italian for "first lady." The term was used to designate the leading female singer in the opera company, the person to whom the prime roles would be given. The prima donna was normally, but not necessarily, a soprano... (lead female opera singer) of her day, and the first modern soprano to revive forgotten operas of the 19th-century bel canto Bel canto Bel canto , along with a number of similar constructions , is an Italian opera term... repertoire. Callas revolutionized opera performances through her vocal and dramatic intensity, transforming what had traditionally been empty display pieces into serious and emotion-filled dramas. She drew praise for the distinctive color of her voice, her dramatic presence, and her careful musicianship. This unique soprano is the main motif of this commemorative coin and her image is shown in the obverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... of it. On the reverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... the National Emblem of Greece with her signature is depicted. |
||||
| 50th anniversary of the death of Nikos Kazantzakis Nikos Kazantzakis Nikos Kazantzakis was a Greek writer and philosopher, celebrated for his novel Zorba the Greek, considered his magnum opus... |
||||
| Designer: Georgios Stamatopoulos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 25 (silver) | Quantity: 25,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2007 | Diameter: 28.25 mm (1.11 in) Thickness: 1.92 mm (0.0755905511811024 in) |
Weight: 9.75 g (0.343921130524842 oz; 0.313469777028465 ozt) | Market value: €32.50 | |
| Nikos Kazantzakis Nikos Kazantzakis Nikos Kazantzakis was a Greek writer and philosopher, celebrated for his novel Zorba the Greek, considered his magnum opus... (1885–1957) is a Greek author and translator whose best-known work (in English) is the novel Zorba the Greek Zorba the Greek (novel) Zorba the Greek is a novel written by the Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis, first published in 1946. It is the tale of a young Greek intellectual who ventures to escape his bookish life with the aid of the boisterous and mysterious Alexis Zorba... . He was born in Heraklion Heraklion Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece.... , Crete (Kriti) Crete Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits... , and educated at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens National and Kapodistrian University of Athens The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , usually referred to simply as the University of Athens, is the oldest university in Southeast Europe and has been in continuous operation since its establishment in 1837. Today, it is the second-largest institution of higher learning in Greece,... , where he received his law degree. After graduating he went to the French Third Republic French Third Republic The French Third Republic was the republican government of France from 1870, when the Second French Empire collapsed due to the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, to 1940, when France was overrun by Nazi Germany during World War II, resulting in the German and Italian occupations of France... , where he studied philosophy under Henri Bergson Henri Bergson Henri-Louis Bergson was a major French philosopher, influential especially in the first half of the 20th century. Bergson convinced many thinkers that immediate experience and intuition are more significant than rationalism and science for understanding reality.He was awarded the 1927 Nobel Prize... . Also well-known in English is his novel 'The Greek Passion The Greek Passion The Greek Passion or Christ Recrucified is a 1948 novel by Nikos Kazantzakis.-Plot summary:... ', about the reenactment of a passion play in a Greek village. This excellent author is the main motif of this commemorative coin and his portrait is shown in the obverse of it. On the reverse of the coin the National Emblem of Greece with his signature is depicted. |
||||
| Mount Pindos National Park Pindus The Pindus mountain range is located in northern Greece and southern Albania. It is roughly 160 km long, with a maximum elevation of 2637 m . Because it runs along the border of Thessaly and Epirus, the Pindus range is often called the "spine of Greece"... - Birds and Flowers |
||||
| Designer: Georgios Stamatopoulos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 25 (silver) | Quantity: 5,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2007 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Market value: €55-€69 | |
| The Arkoudorema river passes through the national park located in Valia Kalda. Hundreds of trees, herbs, flowers and other unique plants can only be found in this valley. The geology and the flora are remnants of the ice age, as are twin lakes Flega at the center of the park. There are no paved roads in the national park so visitors must use the marked paths, which pass along serene rivers and lakes before ending at the springs lake of Aoos Rivers Vjosë Vjosë or Aoös is a river in northwestern Greece and southwestern Albania.Its total length is about , of which the first are in Greece, and the remaining are in Albania. Vjosë is fed by two secondary branches, both in Albania, the Drino river and the Shushicë.Its source is in Greece, specifically... . This park has been selected as the motif of this coin. On the obverse of the coin a closed zoom in to a typical view of the flowers and birds of the park is depicted. On the reverse, the National emblem of Greece inside an artistic representation of a tree. |
||||
| Mount Pindos National Park - Black Pine Trees | ||||
| Designer: Georgios Stamatopoulos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 25 (silver) | Quantity: 5,000 | Quality: Proof | |
| Issued: 2007 | Diameter: 40 mm (1.57 in) | Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz; 1.09 ozt) | Market value: €55-€64 | |
| Valia Kalda means warm valley. Spreading over 6.8 acres (27,518.6 m²), it is the largest and most important national park of Greece. Its official name is the National Park of Northern Pindos Pindus The Pindus mountain range is located in northern Greece and southern Albania. It is roughly 160 km long, with a maximum elevation of 2637 m . Because it runs along the border of Thessaly and Epirus, the Pindus range is often called the "spine of Greece"... and is situated at the mountain range of Pindos, around 25 km north of Metsovo Metsovo Metsovo is a town in Epirus on the mountains of Pindus in northern Greece, between Ioannina to the north and Meteora to the south. The largest centre of Vlach life in Greece, Metsovo is bypassed by GR-6 and also by Egnatia Odos Motorway.... , at the borders of the cities Ioannina Ioannina Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the... and Grevena Grevena Grevena is a town and municipality in Greece, capital of the Grevena peripheral unit. The town's current population is 10,447 citizens; it lies about 400 km from Athens and about 180 km from Thessaloniki. The municipality's population is 30,564... . The tour of the valley, which was named "warm", as its temperature is 10-15 degrees higher than the mountains around it, is a unique experience. This park has been selected as the motif of this coin. On the obverse of the coin is a panoramic view of the common black pine trees that are prevalent in the park. On the reverse, is the National emblem of Greece depicted inside an artistic representation of a tree. |
||||
2008 coinage
| New Acropolis Museum New Acropolis Museum The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on its feet, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece... |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designer: Georgios Stamatopoulos | Mint: Mint of Greece | |||
| Value: €10 | Alloy: Ag 925 (silver) | Quantity: 10,000 | Quality: BU | |
| Issued: 2008 | Diameter: 28.25 mm (1.11 in) | Weight: 9.75 g (0.343921130524842 oz; 0.313469777028465 ozt) | Issue price: €35 Market value: N/A |
|
| The Acropolis Museum Acropolis Museum The Old Acropolis Museum was an archaeological museum located in Athens, Greece on the archeological site of Acropolis. It is built in a niche at the eastern edge of the rock and most of it lies beneath the level of the hilltop, making it largely invisible. It was considered one of the major... is an archaeological museum located in Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... , Greece, on the archeological site of Acropolis Acropolis of Athens The Acropolis of Athens or Citadel of Athens is the best known acropolis in the world. Although there are many other acropoleis in Greece, the significance of the Acropolis of Athens is such that it is commonly known as The Acropolis without qualification... . It is considered one of the major archaeological museums in Athens and ranks among the most important museums of the world. Due to its limited size, the Greek Government decided in the late 1980s to build a new museum. The New Acropolis Museum New Acropolis Museum The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on its feet, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece... is now being built at the base of the Acropolis. In June 2007 the old museum closed its doors so that its antiquities could be moved to their new home. The new museum opened in June 2009. This coin was issued to commemorate the re-opening of the museum. On the obverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... a panoramic view of the Acropolis can be seen; the museum resides in the base of it. On the reverse Obverse and reverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse... , one of the pedimental sculptures from the Parthenon Parthenon The Parthenon is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their virgin patron. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC, although... can be observed together with the National emblem of Greece National emblem of Greece The national emblem of Greece , also known as the coat of arms of Greece, consists of a blue escutcheon with a white cross totally surrounded by two laurel branches... and the face value of €10. |
||||