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Greek 2 euro coins

The poorest member of the EU, Greece saw EMU as an essential step towards achieving its strategic and economic ambitions. In spite of the euro's weakness when Greece entered the euro-zone on January 1 2001, opinion polls showed that some 70 per cent of Greeks were in favour of membership. There was little attachment to the drachma, as europe's second-oldest currency was linked in Greek minds with economic and political backwardness. Greece leveraged the euro to encourage foreign direct investment with a view to the country becoming a business and transport hub, linking south-east Europe with EU markets.

All designs feature the 12 stars of the EU, the year of imprint and a tiny symbol of the Bank of Greece (the anthemion flower). Uniquely, the value of the coins is expressed on the national side in the Greek alphabet, as well as being on the common side in the Roman alphabet. The euro cent is known as the lepto (plural lepta) in Greek, in reference to the former currency, the drachma, which was divided into 100 lepta.

Greece did not enter the eurozone until 2001 and was not able to start minting coins as early as the other eleven member states, so a number of coins circulated in 2002 were not minted in Athens but in Finland (€1 and €2 - mint mark S = Suomi), France (1c, 2c, 5c, 10c and 50c - mint mark F) and Spain (20c - mint mark E = Espana). The coins minted in Athens for the Euro introduction in 2002 as well as all the subsequent Greek euro coins do not carry any mint mark.

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

	2 euros - 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome The Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community and ultimately led to the introduction of the euro in 1999 and the euro banknotes and coins in 2002. The anniversary was celebrated on 25 March 2007 and the euro area countries have marked the occasion by jointly issuing this commemorative coin. The coin shows the Treaty document signed by the six founding countries on a background evocating the paving (designed by Michelangelo) of the ... Krause - Misler #216 Diameter 25.75 mm Thickness 2.2 mm Weight 8.5 gr Composition BiAlloy (Nk/Ng), ring Cupronickel (75% copper - 25% nickel clad on nickel core), center Nickel brass (75% copper - 20% zinc - 5% nickel) Edge Combination of the number 2 and ** repeated six times Comments Legend: Treaty of Rome - 50 years of Europe - Hellenic Republic Date Mintage Grade Price Shop 2007 3,978,549 Uncirculated € 3.4 Buy
	2 euros - Europa abducted by Zeus Portrays a scene a scene from a mosaic in Sparta (third century AD), showing Europa being abducted by Zeus, who has taken the form of a bull. In Greek mythology Europa was a beautiful Phoenician princess, daughter of Agenor and Telephassa. Zeus saw her gathering flowers and immediately fell in love with her. Zeus transformed himself into a white bull and carried Europa away to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity and Europa became ... Krause - Misler #215 Diameter 25.75 mm Thickness 2.2 mm Weight 8.5 gr Composition BiAlloy (Nk/Ng), ring Cupronickel (75% copper - 25% nickel clad on nickel core), center Nickel brass (75% copper - 20% zinc - 5% nickel) Edge Edge lettering (Hellenic Republic), fine milled Comments Designer: G.Stamatopoulos - 2 Varieties (A and B) Date Mintage Grade Price Shop 2010 732,500 Uncirculated € 2.9 Buy 2009 982,500 Uncirculated € 3.2 Buy 2008 1,007,522 Uncirculated € 3.4 Buy 2007 20,000 Uncirculated - View
	2 euros - Myron Discus Thrower The Discobolus of Myron ("discus thrower") is a famous Roman marble copy of a lost Greek bronze original, completed during the zenith of the classical period between 460-450 BC. A discus thrower is depicted about to release his throw. The moment captured in the statue is an example of rhythmos, harmony and balance and Myron is often credited as being the first sculptor to master this style. The coin commemorates the Olympic Games of 2004 held in Athens. ... Krause - Misler #209 Diameter 25.75 mm Thickness 2.2 mm Weight 8.5 gr Composition BiAlloy (Nk/Ng), ring Cupronickel (75% copper - 25% nickel clad on nickel core), center Nickel brass (75% copper - 20% zinc - 5% nickel) Edge Edge lettering (Hellenic Republic), fine milled Comments 2 Varieties (A and B) Date Mintage Grade Price Shop 2004 34,500,000 Uncirculated € 3.5 Buy
	2 euros - Europa abducted by Zeus Portrays a scene a scene from a mosaic in Sparta (third century AD), showing Europa being abducted by Zeus, who has taken the form of a bull. In Greek mythology Europa was a beautiful Phoenician princess, daughter of Agenor and Telephassa. Zeus saw her gathering flowers and immediately fell in love with her. Zeus transformed himself into a white bull and carried Europa away to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity and Europa became ... Krause - Misler #188 Diameter 25.75 mm Thickness 2.2 mm Weight 8.5 gr Composition BiAlloy (Nk/Ng), ring Cupronickel (75% copper - 25% nickel clad on nickel core), center Nickel brass (75% copper - 20% zinc - 5% nickel) Edge Edge lettering (Hellenic Republic), fine milled Comments Designer: G.Stamatopoulos - 2 Varieties (A and B) Date Mintage Grade Price Shop 2006 950,000 Uncirculated € 3.5 Buy 2005 950,000 Uncirculated € 3.5 Buy 2003 450,700 Uncirculated € 3.3 Buy 2002 75,340,055 Uncirculated € 4.05 Buy 2002 - "S - Suomi" 70,000,000 Uncirculated € 4.05 Buy
	2 euros - 25th Centenary of the Battle of Marathon The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC, during the first Persian invasion of Greece. It was fought between the citizens of Athens, aided by Plataea, and a Persian force commanded by Datis and Artaphernes. It was the culmination of the first attempt by Persia, under King Darius I, to subjugate Greece. The inner part of the coin shows a synthesis of a shield and a runner/warrior symbolizing the battle for freedom and the noble ideals derived from ... Diameter 25.75 mm Thickness 2.2 mm Weight 8.5 gr Composition BiAlloy (Nk/Ng), ring Cupronickel (75% copper - 25% nickel clad on nickel core), center Nickel brass Edge Edge lettering (Hellenic Republic), fine milled Date Mintage Grade Price Shop 2010 2,500,000 Uncirculated € 3 Buy
	2 euros - XIII Special Olympics World Summer Games The 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games were held during Summer 2011 in Athens, Greece, from 25 June to 4 July 2011. Special Olympics is a non-profit organization that was officially founded in 1968, giving form to the vision of it's founder, Eunice Kennedy-Shriver (1921-2009), sister of USA President John F Kennedy. The center of the coin shows the emblem of the Games, a radiant sun the source of life that underlines the excellence and power ... Diameter 25.75 mm Thickness 2.2 mm Weight 8.5 gr Composition BiAlloy (Nk/Ng), ring Cupronickel (75% copper - 25% nickel clad on nickel core), center Nickel brass Edge Edge lettering (Hellenic Republic), fine milled Comments Designer: Georgios Stamatopoulos Legend: XIII SPECIAL OLYMPICS W.S.G. ATHENS 2011 - HELLENIC REPUBLIC Date Mintage Grade Price Shop 2011 1,000,000 Uncirculated € 2.9 Buy
	2 euros - XIII Special Olympics World Summer Games (Colorized) The 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games were held during Summer 2011 in Athens, Greece, from 25 June to 4 July 2011. Special Olympics is a non-profit organization that was officially founded in 1968, giving form to the vision of it's founder, Eunice Kennedy-Shriver (1921-2009), sister of USA President John F Kennedy. The center of the coin shows the emblem of the Games, a radiant sun the source of life that underlines the excellence and power ... Diameter 25.75 mm Thickness 2.2 mm Weight 8.5 gr Composition BiAlloy (Nk/Ng), ring Cupronickel (75% copper - 25% nickel clad on nickel core), center Nickel brass Edge Edge lettering (Hellenic Republic), fine milled Comments This coin has been artificially colorized Date Mintage Grade Price Shop 2011 unknown Uncirculated € 9.9 Buy
	2 euros - 10th anniversary of the EMU and the birth of the euro A first attempt to create an economic and monetary union between the members of the European Communities goes back to an initiative by the European Commission in 1969. However, the introduction of the euro started principally on 31 December 1998, when the exchange rates between the euro and legacy currencies in the Eurozone became fixed. The coin shows a stick figure which merges into the € symbol. It seeks to convey the idea of the single currency ... Diameter 25.75 mm Thickness 2.2 mm Weight 8.5 gr Composition BiAlloy (Nk/Ng), ring Cupronickel (75% copper - 25% nickel clad on nickel core), center Nickel brass Edge Edge lettering (Hellenic Republic), fine milled Comments Designer: Georgios Stamatopoulos Legend: Date Mintage Grade Price Shop 2009 4,000,000 Uncirculated € 2.9 Buy
	2 euros - 10 years of euro banknotes and coins On 1 January 2002, euro banknotes and coins were introduced in 12 Member States of the European Union. The introduction of the euro cash was an unprecedented challenge, but it went smoothly, and billions of banknotes and coins started to circulate in a matter of days. Five more Member States adopted the euro in later years, so a total of 17 Member States – and 332 million people – use the currency as of 2011. It has become a symbol of Europe, and ... Diameter 25.75 mm Thickness 2.2 mm Weight 8.5 gr Composition BiAlloy (Nk/Ng), ring Cupronickel (75% copper - 25% nickel clad on nickel core), center Nickel brass Edge Edge lettering (Hellenic Republic), fine milled Comments Designer: Helmut Andexlinger Date Mintage Grade Price Shop 2012 Only in collector folders Uncirculated € 2.8 Buy
	2 euros - 10 years of euro banknotes and coins (Coin Card) On 1 January 2002, euro banknotes and coins were introduced in 12 Member States of the European Union. The introduction of the euro cash was an unprecedented challenge, but it went smoothly, and billions of banknotes and coins started to circulate in a matter of days. Five more Member States adopted the euro in later years, so a total of 17 Member States – and 332 million people – use the currency as of 2011. It has become a symbol of Europe, and ... Diameter 25.75 mm Thickness 2.2 mm Weight 8.5 gr Composition BiAlloy (Nk/Ng), ring Cupronickel (75% copper - 25% nickel clad on nickel core), center Nickel brass Edge Edge lettering (Hellenic Republic), fine milled Comments Designer: Helmut Andexlinger Date Mintage Grade Price Shop 2012 5,000 Uncirculated € 9.9 Buy
	2 euros - Myron Discus Thrower (Coin card) The Discobolus of Myron ("discus thrower") is a famous Roman marble copy of a lost Greek bronze original, completed during the zenith of the classical period between 460-450 BC. A discus thrower is depicted about to release his throw. The moment captured in the statue is an example of rhythmos, harmony and balance and Myron is often credited as being the first sculptor to master this style. The coin commemorates the Olympic Games of 2004 held in Athens. ... Diameter 25.75 mm Thickness 2.2 mm Weight 40 gr Composition BiAlloy (Nk/Ng), ring Cupronickel (75% copper - 25% nickel clad on nickel core), center Nickel brass (75% copper - 20% zinc - 5% nickel) Edge Edge lettering (Hellenic Republic), fine milled Comments Issued on 14 May 2004 Date Mintage Grade Price Shop 2004 500,000 Uncirculated € 9.9 Buy

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

Euro collector coin issues

According to the Conclusions of the Ecofin Council meeting on January 31, 2000, to ensure that Euro collector coins will be readily distinguishable from Euro coins intended for circulation, the coins must bide to the following rules:

• The face value of collector coins should be different from that of the coins intended for circulation (i.e. Euro coins cannot have a face value equal to the 8 denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Euro cent and 1 and 2 Euro)
• Collector coins should not use images, which are similar to the common sides of the euro coins intended for circulation. Furthermore, as far as possible, the designs used should also be at least slightly different from those of the national sides of circulation coins
• Out of colour, diameter and thickness, euro collector coins should differ significantly from the coins intended for circulation in two respects
  1. Collector coins should not have a shaped edge with fine scallops, or "Spanish flower"
  2. The identity of the issuing Member State should be clearly and easily recognisable

Euro collector coins may be sold at or above face value and the approval for the volume of collector coins issue should be sought on an aggregate basis rather than for each individual issue. With respect to collector coins' denominations, that may coincide with the low denominations of euro banknotes, there does not seem to exist any significant risk of substitution. However, Member States should stand ready to consider any demands by the ECB on this matter. While Euro collector coins will have legal tender status in the issuing Member State, the competent authorities (NCBs, Mints or other institutions) should set up temporary arrangements through which owners of euro collector coins issued in other euro area Member States can receive the face value of those coins while bearing the costs related to this transaction.