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Athens 2004 - Olympic games coins
Starting from March 2003, the Bank of Greece issued a series of six different coin series commemorating the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. The total collection includes 18 coins (6 Gold and 12 Silver) which have been released in 6 quarterly issues, each consisting of 1 Gold and 2 Silver coins. The themes were selected by the Minister for the National Economy and the Governor of the Bank of Greece, from a set of proposals presented by a national technical and artistic committee. A special series comprising 2 gold and 4 silver coins was also minted to commemoratwe the Olympic Torch Relay.
Introduction and Series: A - B - C - D - E - F and Olympic Torch Relay
Designs
The coins have been designed by the painter and engraver Panayiotis Gravalos, while the reliefs were created by the sculptor Kostas Kazakos, who, having worked for five years for the Greek Mint, has put his signature on several of the most beautiful Greek coins. One of these, the 50 drachma coin, was awarded first prize in a competition in Washington D.C., USA, in 1988 and is considered by many to be the most beautiful coin in the world. The Official Coins of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games are of unique value to coin collectors, since they will be limited in number of designs and mintage per coin, compared to previous Olympic coin collections.
The designs of the Gold coins have a civilization theme and portray prominent landmarks from the history of Greece. The Silver coins feature sporting themes and each design motif has been rendered using a modern depiction in the foreground contrasted with a classical depiction of the sport in the background. Thus the designs communicate the passage - through - time with the foreground modern depiction rendered in a crisp precise manner, while the classical backgrounds are rendered in such a way that they appear to be worn, much as a coin appears with the passage of time. The Olympic Flame series portrays themes from the Olympic Torch Relay
Common side - Specifications
 
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Diameter (mm): 25 / 40 Weight (g): 10 / 34 Shape: Round Edge: Smooth Mintage: 28,000 / 68,000 (each design) Mintage: 160,000 / 820,000 (total) Face value: 10 / 100 euros Fineness: Proof 999.9 (24K) / 925 (sterling) Price: 440 / 44 euros Description: Features two concentric rings: The outer ring portrays 12 stars, a design motif characteristic of Euro coins, and the inner ring portrays the face value of 100 euros face value for the gold coins and 10 euros for the silver ones, an olive branch, the ATHENS 2004 logo, the five Olympic circles, and the anthemion flower - the symbol of quality of the Greek Mint Certificates of Authenticity: Gold coins - Obverse & Reverse Silver coins - Obverse & Reverse |
Footnote Specifications for gold and silver coins respectively
First series
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Issue date: 3.3.2003 Description: The first series of Olympic coins was issued on March 3, 2003. The coins can be purchased individually, in sets of two silver coins and a complete set including all three coins, the gold and the two silver ones. The collection will be completed with 5 more series. |
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KM#: 192 Description: On the large island of Crete, first inhabited in the Neolithic era around 6000 B.C., a glorious culture developed that became known as the Minoan civilization (2600-1100 B.C.). The most glorious monument of this civilization was the Palace of Minos at Knossos, which is the subject of the first gold coin of the 2004 Olympics. It was the administrative and economic center, while at the same time it also had a sacred character. Beyond the architectural value of the palace, it is also noteworthy for its many well preserved interior wall paintings depicting social life in the Minoan period. The famous wall painting "Taurokatharpsia" (bull vaulting) is preserved in the interior of the Palace and it may be considered the precursor of the contests of the Classical and later periods. The contest of Taurokatharpsia involves executing a series of somersaults and dangerous acrobatics on the back of a running bull |
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KM#: 190 Description: Athletics has its roots in ancient Greek history. Today Greeks still refer to Athletic events as classical sports. Its first Olympic Games in 776 BC included a 192.2 m sprint known as the one stadium race (equivalent to today's 200m sprint). During the first 13 Olympiads between 776 and 728 B.C. it was in fact the only athletic event. In the composition a modern athlete figure appears in the foreground, shown in the starting position, while in the background two ancient runners are carved in such way as to give the appearance of a coin "worn" by time, a scene originally appearing on a black-figure vase of the 6th century B.C. |
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KM#: 191 Description: Disc throwing is one of the most "noble" sporting events, since it did not have any direct connection with military exercises or farm work. It has remained virtually unchanged in the 28 centuries of its history, bearing therefore a significant historical tradition. In antiquity it formed part of the pentathlon, and it required the athlete to bend his legs more, and not rotate his body as much as athletes do today. In the composition a modern athlete in the foreground is seen in a half-turned position, while an ancient discus thrower in the background has been captured in a lively bending motion, with the discus high above his head, creating a vivid representation of the sport. |
Buy the first collective series
Efsimon Collections SA was the official licensee of the Olympic Committee for the distribution of the Official Coins of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games. Efsimon Collections SA supported the effort towards organising the best Olympic Games by creating high quality products with high collective value.
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| Complete set (1 Gold and 2 Silver coins) | |
| Silver set (2 Silver coins) | |
