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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
Olympic Torch Relay coins
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Issue date: Description: Each Olympic year officials rekindle the flame from the rays of the sun in Olympia, Greece, the site of the original Olympic Games. A relay of runners then carries the flame to the site of the new games. |
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Description: The tradition of the Olympic torch relay, which culminates in the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony of each Games, dates from 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. To symbolize the link between the ancient and modern Olympic Games the flame is lit in a ceremony at Olympia, Greece, and carried by runners to the stadium; the lighting of the Olympic cauldron has become the most hallowed moment of the Olympic Games. On March 24, 2004, the lighting of the Olympic Flame took place in Olympia. This theme is depicted on the first gold coin. |
 
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Description: The ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay was the first trully universal realy
ever. The Olympic Flame started its journey from Ancient Olympia and was carried by 3,6 thousand torch bearers
across 34 cities throught the world. On June 3, 2004, the flame was carried to Australia, from where it
travelled to Asia, Africa anbd America. It was the first time the Olympic Flame was transported to Africa
and South America. The Flame returned to Europe and reached its final destination, Latvia, on July 8, 2004.
The four silver coins depict the Olympic Torch Relay from Europe to the other four continents.
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Description: The flame returned to Greece on July 9, 2004. In the torch relay 7,700 torch bearers carried the flame accross the mainland of the country and its islands, and after 31 days, it retuned to Attica. On August 13, 2004, it entered the Olympic Stadium lighting the central alter which remained lit throughout the Games. This theme is depicted on the second gold coin. |
Buy the Olympic Torch Relay 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.
| Item | Buy |
| Complete set (2 Gold and 4 Silver coins) |  |
