• Coin Shop
• Dictionary
• Swap Area
• Coin Vault
• Forum

• HomeFleur-de-coin.com
• Greek currency Olympic Games 2004
• Athens Olympics Series B

Athens 2004 - Olympic Series B

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 commemorate the Olympic Torch Relay.

Common side - Specifications

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

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

The second series of the Official Coins of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games was issued on June 2, 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 4 more series.

View / Buy	KM#: 195 Description: The enchanting setting of ancient Olympia was chosen by the ancient Greeks as the place where the most glorious and renowned pan-Hellenic games in antiquity were held, which gave birth to the modern Olympic Games. The entire area of Olympia is occupied by temples, altars, gymnasia and stadia, porticoes and guest houses, the treasuries of the various Greek cities and a great number of statues. The first games in Olympia are believed to have been held in 776 B.C., a date that thereafter constituted the basis for the calculation of time in antiquity. They were initially local games, which later became Peloponnesian and finally pan-Hellenic. Thus, they acquired an official character, since while in progress a military truce was declared and any hostilities between rival Greek cities ceased. One of the most important monuments of Olympia, pictured on the second Gold coin, is the Crypt, a long and narrow vaulted passage through which the athletes and judges entered the Stadium, and which soon acquired its symbolic importance signifying the opening of the games.
View / Buy	KM#: 194 Description: Long jump 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 a jumpingweight 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 on the programme of the Athens Olympic Games in 1896, and the women's on the programme of the 1948 Olympic Games in London. In its modern version it assumes 4 forms (simple jump - triple jump - long jump - pole vault). The theme protrays a modern athlete at the moment he is touching the ground, while the ancient athlete in the backround is shown while starting off his jump, as he is seen on a black-figure vase of the 5th century B.C.
View / Buy	KM#: 193 Description: The modern event continues an ancient tradition. The javelin was on the programme of the ancient Olympic Games as one of the pentathlon sports and took on two forms: a) throwing the javelin for distance and b) throwing the javelin at a target, in an event that may be likened to shooting today, and which was performed by athletes on foot or on horseback. The difference between the ancient and the modern javelin is the use in antiquity of a thong, a strap forming a loop and held by the athlete with his index and middle fingers. Today, the javelin is carried along a corridor 30 to 36.5 m long and 4 m wide, at the end of which there is an arc-shaped line to define the throwing line. The event was introduced at the 1908 Olympic Games in London, and Los Angeles Olympic Games of 1932, for men and women respectively. In the composition a modern athlete figure appears in the foreground, running towards the starting point of the throw, and an ancient athlete in the position of preparation for the throw, as he is depicted on a 5th century representation.