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 commemorate the Olympic Torch Relay.

	Series A	Series B	Series C	Series D	Series E	Series F	Torch Relay
Issue date	3.3.2003	2.6.2003	1.9.2003	3.11.2003	1.4.2004	31.5.2004	2004

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

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

Third series

The third series of the Official Coins of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games was issued on September 1, 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 3 more series.

View / Buy	KM#: 198 Description: The Panathenean stadium is a beautiful marble stadium (Kallimarmaron) located on the Ardettos hill in Athens, where once stood the ancient stadium which is believed to have been built around 330 B.C and was used for the Panathinean games. In 1896, when the first Olympic Games of the modern era were to be held, it was proposed to the Greek public benefactor George Averof that he undertake the expenses for the restoration of the stadium and its fitting with new marble seats, a task which he willingly undertook. Architect Anastasios Metaxas was placed in charge of the works, and the inauguration of the stadium was celebrated on March 25 1896, (Greece's national day), together with the opening of the first Olympic Games of modern times.
View / Buy	KM#: 197 Description: Equestrian or Horse Riding is a noble sport of great tradition, always reminding us of the unbreakable relation between human beings and horses. Since prehistoric times, people have been riding horses and two Equestrian events, chariot races and horses races, were first included in the 25th ancient Olympic Games competition schedule, in 680 BC. Equestrian events developed primary from training horses for war and many reports point to the fact that ancient Greeks used exercises similar to the modern Dressage events, in order to train their horses to move accurately and precisely in the battlefields. Many Olympic coins were struck in antiquity on the occasion of victories in equestrian events. On this composition of the coin, the modern horseman is pictured as he jumps over an obstacle, while in the background the ancient horseman is inspired by a representation on a black-figure vase of the 5th century B.C.
View / Buy	KM#: 196 Description: Relay races can be traced to the ancient custom of sending messages via a series of couriers (skytalodromoi or "runners with a message stick"). Each courier handed the stick over to the next until its destination was safely reached. At present the relay race has completely changed character and has become an important official sport of the Olympic Games. In the relay race there are four runners from each country. Each runner covers a quarter of the distance, called a leg, then passes a rigid hollow tube called a baton to the succeeding team member. Changeovers must be accomplished within a zone extending 18 m (20 yd) at the beginning of each baton exchange. In the composition three modern athletes run, holding their batons while in the background three ancient athletes are shown running a race known as the dolichos (a semi-endurance race of approximately 3,800 meters distance).