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Greek 2 drachma coins
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KM# 151 Diameter (mm): 21 Thickness (mm): 1.48 Weight (g): 3.75 Shape: Round Colour: Red Issue date: 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1993 (Proof), 1994, 1998, 2000 Composition: Copper 99,9%, Phosphorous 0,02% Edge: Smooth Engraver: Kazakos Description: 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. Obverse: Maritime symbol of 1821, denomination (2 drachmas), date and the words "Hellenic Republic" Reverse: Bust and the words "Manto Mavrogenous"
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KM# 130 Diameter (mm): 24 Weight (g): 6.1 Shape: Round Colour: Yellow Issue date: 1982, 1984, 1986 Composition: Nickel-Brass Edge: Milled Engraver: L. Orphanos, N. Perantinos (Athens Mint) Description: The Greek War of Independence was fought from the Greeks' declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire on March 25 (now Greek Independence Day) 1821 until the modern state of Greece was granted independence by the Treaty of Constantinople in July 1832. The Ottoman Empire had ruled all of Greece, with the exception of the Ionian islands since its conquest of the Byzantine Empire over the course of the 14th and 15th centuries. But in the 18th and 19th century, as revolutionary nationalism grew across Europe (due, in part, to the influence of the French Revolution), and the power of the Ottoman Empire declined, Greek nationalism began to assert itself and drew support from Western European "philhellenes". Obverse: 2 crossed riffles, denomination (2 drachmas), date and the words "Hellenic Republic" Reverse: Bust of Giorgios Karaiskakis looking left and the words "Giorgios Karaiskakis"
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KM# 117 Diameter (mm): 24 Weight (g): 6.1 Shape: Round Colour: Yellow Issue date: 1976, 1978, 1978 Proof, 1980 Composition: Nickel-Brass Edge: Milled Engraver: L. Orphanos, N. Perantinos Description: 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. Obverse: 2 crossed riffles, denomination (2 drachmai), date and the words "Hellenic Republic" Reverse: Bust of Giorgios Karaiskakis looking left and the words "Giorgios Karaiskakis"
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KM# 108 Diameter (mm): 24 Weight (g): 6.1 Shape: Round Colour: Yellow Issue date: 1973 Composition: Nickel-Brass Edge: Milled Engraver: I. Stinis, N. Perantinos (Athens Mint) Description: 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. Obverse: Owl, denomination (2 drachmai) Reverse: Phoenix, date and the words "Hellenic Republic". Please note that the soldier in front of the phoenix (as depicted in the coin below) has been removed. The soldier was the symbol of the military coup which took over power on April 21, 1967.
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KM# 99 Diameter (mm): 24 Weight (g): 6.1 Shape: Round Colour: Grey Issue date: 1971, 1973 Composition: 75% Nickel, Copper 25% Edge: Milled Engraver: V. Falireas (Athens Mint) Description: Constantine II (1940- ), grandson of Constantine I and son of Paul I, was the king of Greece between 1964 and 1973. In April 1967 a military coup led by Col. George Papadopoulos seized power, suspended the constitution and dissolved the Parliament. In December 1967 an abortive countercoup led by King Constantine forced the King into exile and a new constitution was approved by Greek voters in 1968, proclaiming Greece a republic. In December 1974 Greece held a referendum which voted against the restoration of the monarchy and a new constitution in June 1975 declared Greece a presidential parliamentary republic Obverse: Soldier in front of Pegasus, denomination and the words "Kingdom of Greece" and 21 April 1967 Reverse: Bust of King Constantine, date and the words "Constantine King of the Greeks"
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KM# 90 Diameter (mm): 24 Weight (g): 6,1 Shape: Round Colour: Grey Issue date: 1966, 1967, 1970 Composition: 75% Nickel, 25% Copper Edge: Milled Engraver: V. Falireas (Prague Mint) Description: According to the Greek Mythology, the goddess Hera who was not fond of Hercules made him lose his mind. In a confused and angry state, he killed his own wife and children. When he awakened from his "temporary insanity," Hercules was shocked and upset by what he'd done. He prayed to the god Apollo for guidance, and the god's oracle told him he would have to serve Eurystheus, the king of Tiryns and Mycenae, for twelve years. As part of his sentence, Hercules had to perform twelve Labors, feats so difficult that they seemed impossible. The Nemean Lion, the Lernean Hydra, the Hind of Ceryneia, the Erymanthean Boar, the Augean Stables, the Stymphalian Birds, the Cretan Bull, the Horses of Diomedes, the Belt of Hippolyte, Geryon's Cattle, the Apples of the Hesperides and Cerberus. By the end of these Labors, Hercules was, without a doubt, Greece's greatest hero Obverse: Coat-of-Arms, denomination and the words "Kingdom of Greece" Reverse: Bust of King Constantine, date and the words "Constantine King of the Greeks" and "B.Falireas"
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KM# 82 Diameter (mm): 24 Weight (g): 6 Shape: Round Colour: Grey Issue date: 1954, 1957, 1957 (Proof), 1959, 1962, 1965 (proof set) Composition: 75% Nickel, 25% Copper Edge: Milled Engraver: V. Falireas (Parish Mint) Description: Paul I (1901-1964), king of Greece (1947-1964), youngest son of King Constantine I. Paul married Princess Frederika of Brunswick in 1938. During most of World War II, when Greece was under German occupation, he was with the Greek government-in-exile in London and Cairo. From Cairo, he broadcast messages to the Greek people. He returned to Greece in 1946 and succeeded to the throne in 1947, on the death of his brother, King George II. Paul was sometimes criticized for interfering in politics. In 1963 he became involved in a dispute with Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis that led to the latter's resignation. Paul was succeeded by his son, Constantine II. Obverse: Coat-of-Arms, denomination and the words "Kingdom of Greece" Reverse: Bust of King Paul, date and the words "Paul King of the Greeks" and "B.Falireas"
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