Euro gold and silver commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the Eurozone. They are mainly produced using gold and silver, although other precious metals are used in rare occasions. Greece was one of the first twelve countries in the Eurozone that introduced the euro (€) on 1 January 2002. Since 2003, the Mint of Greece have been minting both normal issues of Greek euro coins, which are intended for circulation, and commemorative euro coins in gold and silver.
These special coins have a legal tender only in Greece, unlike the normal issues of the Greek euro coins, which have a legal tender in every country of the Eurozone. This means that the commemorative coins made of gold and silver cannot be used as money in other countries. Furthermore, as their bullion valuePrecious metals in bulk form are known as bullion, and are traded on international regulated markets. Bullion metals may be cast into ingots, or minted into coins. The defining attribute of bullion is that it is valued by its mass and purity rather than by a face value as money. generally vastly exceeds their face value, these coins are not intended to be used as means of payment at all—although it remains possible. For this reason, they are usually named Collectors' coins.
The coins usually commemorate the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of special importance. Greece mints four of these coins on average per year, mainly in silver, with a typical face value of €10. However, to celebrate the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece minted almost three times more than normal number of coins in 2003 and 2004, in both gold and silver.
Summary
As of 2024, 154 variations of Greek commemorative coins have been minted or have scheduled to be minted. These special high-value commemorative coins are not to be confused with €2 commemorative coins, which are coins designated for circulation and do have legal tender status in all countries of the Eurozone.
The following table shows the number of coins minted per year. In the first section, the coins are grouped by the metal used, while in the second section they are grouped by their face value.
Year Issues By metal By face value gold silver Others €200 €100 €50 €20 €10 €6 €5 €1,5 2003 15 2004 12 2005 1 2006 3 2007 4 2008 1 2009 2 2010 1 2011 1 2012 6 2013 6 2014 7 2015 7 2016 7 2017 8 2018 13 2019 9 2020 11 2021 5 2022 10 2023 11 2024 14 Total 154 46 102 6 14 20 12 1 66 18 20 1
2003 coinage
Palace of Knossos Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos Mint: Mint of Greece Value: €100 Alloy: Au 999 (Gold) Quantity: 28,000 Quality: Proof Issued: 3 March 2003 Diameter: Weight: Issue price: €440 The Minoan civilization (2600-1100 BC) developed on the island of Crete. The Palace of Minos at Knossos, was the economic and administrative center; it also had a sacred character. The palace, which is the subject of the first gold coin of the 2004 Summer Olympics, is noteworthy for its many well preserved interior wall paintings depicting social life in the Minoan period including the famous wall painting "Taurokatharpsia" (bull vaulting), an ancient form of bullfighting. A view of the monument can be seen on the obverse of the coin.
The reverse, similarly to all coins of the series, features two concentric rings. The outer ring portrays 12 stars, a design motif characteristic of euro coins. The inner ring portrays the face value of €100, an olive branch around the Athens 2004 logo, the five Olympic circles, and the Anthemion Flower - the symbol of the Greek Mint. Discus Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos Mint: Mint of Greece Value: €10 Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) Quantity: 68,000 Quality: Proof Issued: 3 March 2003 Diameter: Weight: Issue price: €44 Market value: €40-€45Discus throwing has remained virtually unchanged in the 28 centuries of its history. It is considered one of the most "noble" sporting events, since it did not have any direct connection with military exercises or farm work. In antiquity it formed part of the pentathlon. On the obverse of the coin a modern athlete is seen in the foreground in a half-turned position, while in the background an ancient discus thrower has been captured in a lively bending motion, with the discus high above his head, creating a vivid representation of the sport.
The reverse, similarly to all coins of the series, features two concentric rings. The outer ring portrays 12 stars, a design motif characteristic of euro coins. The inner ring portrays the face value of €10, an olive branch around the Athens 2004 logo, the five Olympic circles, and the Anthemion Flower - the symbol of the Greek Mint. Running Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos Mint: Mint of Greece Value: €10 Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) Quantity: 68,000 Quality: Proof Issued: 3 March 2003 Diameter: Weight: Issue price: €44 Market value: €40-€45Track and field athletics have their roots in the history of Ancient Greece. The first of the Ancient Olympic Games in 776 BC included a sprint known as the one stadium race (equivalent to today's 200 meters sprint). It was the only athletic event during the first 13 Olympiads until 728 BC. In the obverse of the coin, a modern athlete figure appears in the foreground, shown in the starting position, while in the background two ancient runners are carved in a manner that gives the appearance of a coin that is "worn" by time. This scene originally appeared on a black-figure vase of the 6th century BC. Crypt of Olympia Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos Mint: Mint of Greece Value: €100 Alloy: Au 999 (Gold) Quantity: 28,000 Quality: Proof Issued: 2 June 2003 Diameter: Weight: Issue price: €440 Market value: €398 The entire area of Olympia is occupied by temples, altars, gymnasia, stadia, porticoes, guest houses, treasuries of various Greek cities and a great number of statues. The first games in Olympia are believed to have been held in 776 BC, a date that thereafter constituted the basis for the calculation of time in antiquity. The Olympiad was a period of four years, counting the interval between two Olympic Games. Initially local games, they soon became Peloponnesian and then pan-Hellenic. They acquired an official status, since, whenever in progress, a military truce was declared and any hostilities between rival Greek city-states ceased. One of the most important monuments of Olympia is the Crypt, which has been selected as main motif on this coin on the obverse, a long and narrow vaulted passage through which the athletes and judges entered the Stadium, signifying the opening of the games. Javelin Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos Mint: Mint of Greece Value: €10 Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) Quantity: 68,000 Quality: Proof Issued: 2 June 2003 Diameter: Weight: Issue price: €44 Market value: €33-€45The javelin was one of the pentathlon sports of the ancient Olympic Games and took on two forms (throwing the javelin for distance and throwing the javelin at a target). The difference between the ancient and the modern javelin is the use (in antiquity) of a thong, or strap to propel the javelin. The event of the javelin throw was re-introduced at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London for men only. It was later extended in the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California for both, men and women.
In the obverse of the coin, as a main motif, a modern athlete figure appears in the foreground, running towards the starting point of the throw. In the background, an ancient athlete is shown in preparation for the throw. Long jump Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos Mint: Mint of Greece Value: €10 Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) Quantity: 68,000 Quality: Proof Issued: 2 June 2003 Diameter: Weight: Issue price: €44 Market value: €32-€45 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 halteres (dumbbells) 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 for the first time on the programme of the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, while the women's on the programme of the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. In its modern version it assumes 4 forms: simple jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault.
The obverse of the coin portrays a modern athlete at the moment he is touching the ground, while the ancient athlete in the background is shown while starting off his jump, as he is seen on a black-figure vase of the 5th century BC. The Panathenean Stadium Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos Mint: Mint of Greece Value: €100 Alloy: Au 999 (Gold) Quantity: 28,000 Quality: Proof Issued: 1 September 2003 Diameter: Weight: Issue price: €440 Market value: €398 The Panathinaiko Stadium is a marble stadium (Kallimarmaron) located on the Ardettos hill in Athens. The Panathenaic Games were held in this stadium, believed to have been built around 330 BC. In 1896, when the first Olympic Games of the modern era were to be held, the Greek public benefactor George Averoff undertook the enormous expenses for the restoration of the stadium. Architect Anastasios Metaxas was in charge of the reconstruction. The inauguration of the stadium was celebrated on 25 March 1896 (Greece Independence Day), together with the opening of the first Olympic Games of modern times. This stadium was selected as the main motif for this coin. Horse Riding Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos Mint: Mint of Greece Value: €10 Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) Quantity: 68,000 Quality: Proof Issued: 1 September 2003 Diameter: Weight: Issue price: €44 Market value: €40-€45 Equestrianism (horse riding) is a noble sport of great tradition, based on the relationship between humans and horses. Two Equestrian events, chariot racing and horse racing, were first included in the 25th ancient Olympic Games competition schedule, in 680 BC. Equestrian events developed primary from training horses in warfare. 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 and in competition. Many Olympic coins were struck in antiquity on the occasion of victories in equestrian events. On the composition of the obverse of this 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 BC. Relays Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos Mint: Mint of Greece Value: €10 Alloy: Ag 925 (Silver) Quantity: 68,000 Quality: Proof Issued: 1 September 2003 Diameter: Weight: Issue price: €44 Market value: €33.50-€45 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 to the next courier until its destination was safely reached. In the Olympic relay race each country has four runners. Each runner covers a quarter of the distance, called a leg, then passes a rigid hollow tube called a baton to a succeeding team member. Changeovers must be accomplished within a zone extending 18 m (20 yd) from the beginning of each baton exchange area. In the obverse of the coin 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). Olympic Village Zappeion Designer: Panayiotis Gravalos & Kostas Kazakos Mint: Mint of Greece Value: €100 Alloy: Au 999 (Gold) Quantity: 28,000 Quality: Proof Issued: 3 November 2003 Diameter: Weight: Issue price: €440