Greek 2 drachma coins

The name drachma is derived from the verb dratto ("to grasp"), as initially a drachma was a fistful (a "grasp") of six oboloi (metal sticks), which were used as a form of currency as early as 1100 BC. The 5th century BC Athenian tetradrachmon ("four drachmae") coin was the most widely used coin in the Greek world prior to the time of Alexander the Great.

After Alexander the Great's conquests, the name drachma was used in many of the Hellenistic kingdoms in the Middle East, including the Ptolemaic kingdom in Alexandria. The Arabic unit of currency known as dirham known from pre-Islamic times and afterwards, inherited its name from the drachma; the dirham is still the name of the official currencies of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. The Armenian dram also derives its name from the drachma.

The following 2 drachma coins have circulated in Greece until the introduction of the Common European Currency on January 1, 2002:



Image of Greek 2 drachmas drachmas coin
Image of Greek 2 drachmas drachmas coin
2 drachmas - Manto Mavrogenous

Amongst the heroines of the Greek War of Independence (1821-1830) was Manto Mavrogenous. She was educated at a college in Triestio and spoke Italian and Turkish. She studied ancient Greek philosophy and history. In 1809 her family returned to Mykonos, the island of their origin. She learned with excitement from her father that Philiki Etairia was preparing the Greek revolution. When the news arrived that the struggle for freedom began, Manto invited the leaders of Mykonos to a meeting and persuaded them to join the revolution ...
Krause - Misler#151
Diameter21 mm
Thickness1.48 mm
Weight3.75 gr
CompositionCopper 99,9%, Phosphorous 0,02%
EdgeSmooth
DateMintageGradePriceShop
2000Only in collector foldersUncirculated€ 0.35Buy
1998Only in collector foldersUncirculated€ 0.3Buy
1994Only in collector foldersUncirculated€ 0.35Buy
1992Only in collector foldersUncirculated€ 0.45Buy
1990Only in collector foldersUncirculated€ 0.2Buy
1988Only in collector foldersUncirculated€ 0.25Buy

Image of Greek 2 drachmas drachmas coin
Image of Greek 2 drachmas drachmas coin
2 drachmas - Georgios Karaiskakis

Georgios Karaiskakis (1782 - 1827) grew up in poverty and was forced to the mountains as kleftis. He was one of the first to take part in the Greek revolution to gain independence from the Ottoman Empire and his military genius became apparent during the last years of the struggle. He was appointed by the first Greek government as chief marshal of Eastern Greece and made Elefsina as his headquarters. He was killed in a clash with the Turks at Faliro, but he is considered the second most important military figure of the revolution, after Kolokotronis. ...
Krause - Misler#130
Diameter24 mm
Thickness0 mm
Weight6.1 gr
CompositionNickel - Brass
EdgeMilled
CommentsEngravers: L. Orphanos, N. Perantinos
DateMintageGradePriceShop
198621,019,000Uncirculated€ 0.9Buy
198437,816,000Uncirculated€ 0.6Buy
198264,414,000Uncirculated€ 0.7Buy

Image of Greek 2 drachmas drachmas coin
Image of Greek 2 drachmas drachmas coin
2 drachmas - Georgios Karaiskakis

Georgios Karaiskakis (1782 - 1827) grew up in poverty and was forced to the mountains as kleftis. He was one of the first to take part in the Greek revolution to gain independence from the Ottoman Empire and his military genius became apparent during the last years of the struggle. He was appointed by the first Greek government as chief marshal of Eastern Greece and made Elefsina as his headquarters. He was killed in a clash with the Turks at Faliro, but he is considered the second most important military figure of the revolution, after Kolokotronis ...
Krause - Misler#117
Diameter24 mm
Thickness0 mm
Weight6.1 gr
CompositionNickel - Brass
EdgeMilled
CommentsEngravers: L. Orphanos, N. Perantinos
DateMintageGradePriceShop
198045,955,000Uncirculated€ 0.75Buy
1978Only in collector foldersUncirculated€ 0.95Buy
1976Only in collector foldersUncirculated€ 1Buy

Image of Greek 2 drachmas drachmas coin
Image of Greek 2 drachmas drachmas coin
2 drachmas - Owl

The owl was the symbol of goddess Athena and it was first depicted on an ancient Greek tetradrachm (5th century b.C.). Athena was patron of the crafts, wisdom and battle. She became the patron goddess of the city of Athens, in a competition with Poseidon. They agreed that each would give the Athenians one gift and the Athenians would choose whichever gift they preferred. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident and a spring sprung up; the water was salty and not very useful, whereas Athena offered them an olive tree. The Athenians (or their king, Cecrops) accepted the olive tree and along with it Athena as their patron, for the olive tree brought wood, oil and food ...
Krause - Misler#108
Diameter24 mm
Thickness0 mm
Weight6.1 gr
CompositionNickel - Brass
EdgeMilled
CommentsEngravers: I. Stinis, N. Perantinos (Athens Mint)
DateMintageGradePriceShop
1973 - Type B40,390,000Uncirculated€ 1.75Buy

Image of Greek 2 drachmas drachmas coin
Image of Greek 2 drachmas drachmas coin
2 drachmas - Phoenix

The phoenix bird symbolizes immortality, resurrection and life after death in the ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology. According to the Greeks, the bird lives in Arabia, near a cool well and every morning at dawn, the sun god would stop his chariot to listen to the bird sing. Only one phoenix exists at a time. When the bird felt its death was near, every 500 to 1,461 years, it would build a nest of aromatic wood and set it on fire. The bird was then consumed by the flames but a new phoenix sprang forth from the pyre ...
Krause - Misler#99
Diameter24 mm
Thickness0 mm
Weight6.1 gr
CompositionCopper 75%, Nickel 25%
EdgeMilled
CommentsEngraver: V. Falireas (Athens Mint)
DateMintageGradePriceShop
1973 - Type AOnly in collector foldersUncirculated€ 1.35Buy
1971Only in collector foldersUncirculated€ 1.8Buy
1971Only in collector foldersVery Fine€ 0.7Buy
1971Only in collector foldersExtremely Fine€ 1Buy

Image of Greek 2 drachmas drachmas coin
Image of Greek 2 drachmas drachmas coin
2 drachmas - King Constantine

Constantine I, King of the Hellenes (2 August 1868 - 11 January 1923) was King of Greece from 1913 to 1917 and from 1920 to 1922. He was Commander – in - Chief of the Hellenic Army during the unsuccessful Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and led the Greek forces during the successful Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, in which Greece captured Thessaloniki, and doubled in area and population. He succeeded to the throne of Greece on 18 March 1913, following his father's assassination ...
Krause - Misler#90
Diameter24 mm
Thickness0 mm
Weight6.1 gr
CompositionCopper 25%, Nickel 75%
EdgeMilled
CommentsEngraver: V. Falireas (Prague Mint)
DateMintageGradePriceShop
19707,000,000Uncirculated€ 20.9Buy
19707,000,000Very Fine€ 2.75Buy
196710,000,000Uncirculated€ 18.7Buy
196710,000,000Very Fine€ 2.2Buy
196610,000,000Uncirculated€ 17Buy
196610,000,000Very Fine€ 2.2Buy

Image of Greek 2 drachmas drachmas coin
Image of Greek 2 drachmas drachmas coin
2 drachmas - King Paul

Paul, King of The Hellenes was King of Greece from 1947 to 1964. He was born in Athens, the third son of Constantine I, King of the Hellenes and his wife, Princess Sophia of Prussia. He was trained as a naval officer and on 9 January 1938 he Frederika of Hanover at Athens. ...
Krause - Misler#82
Diameter24 mm
Thickness0 mm
Weight6 gr
CompositionCopper 25%, Nickel 75%
EdgeMilled
CommentsEngraver: V. Falireas (Paris Mint)
DateMintageGradePriceShop
19654,978Proof€ 8.1Buy
196210,096,000Very Fine€ 2.75Buy
19595,000,000Very Fine€ 8.35Buy
195710,171,000Very Fine€ 4.4Buy
195412,609,000Very Fine€ 2.75Buy

The size of the images above are related to the diameter of the coins they represent.

Greek Drachma coin Gallery


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