1362) "MYRTIS", Greece: A 5 Euro Silver Coin dedicated to an 11 year old girl who was a victim of the Plague of Athens (430-426 BC) issued by the Bank of Greece: Coin issue date: 25.02.2020:

1362) "MYRTIS", Greece: A 5 Euro Silver Coin dedicated to an 11 year old girl who was a victim of the Plague of Athens (430-426 BC) issued by the Bank of Greece: Coin issue date: 25.02.2020:

Construction workers for the Athens Metro Station at Kerameikos in 1994, brought to light a mass grave containing the remains of about 150 people, who were victims of the Plague of Athens (430-426 BC), which claimed thousands of lives and occurred during the Peloponnesian War.

The Reverse and Obverse of the 5 Euro Silver Proof Coin seen placed together

Using state-of-the-art DNA analysis, scientists were conclusively able to answer one of the unsolved questions of ancient Greek history by identifying the deadly pathogen as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, which caused typhoid fever.

Among the finds was the very well-preserved skull of an 11-year old girl, whom the archaeologists named Myrtis. Her lower jaw and teeth were intact.The excellent condition of the skull inspired the idea of reconstructing the face of a child who had lived at the time of Pericles.

After the original skull was replicated, the facial features were recreated using the "Manchester method". The young Athenian girl was unveiled to the public in a ceremony at the Acropolis Museum in April 2010.

The Reverse of the 5 Euro Silver Proof Coin shows the reconstructed face of Myrtis facing right. Her name is inscribed in Greek. A pattern of leafy twigs adorns the outer periphery.

The year of issue "2020" and the Mint of Greece's "mint mark" are inscribed at centre right.

The Obverse of the 5 Euro Silver Proof Coin shows an analysis graph and is titled - "DNA S. enterica Typhi" (at the bottom periphery) and is inscribed "5 EURO" (in Greek - on the upper periphery).

The specifications of this Silver Proof Coin are:

Denomination: 5 Euro; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 10.0 grams; Diameter/Size: 30.0 mm; Edge: Plain; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 2,500 pieces; Designer: G. Stamatopoulos; Date of Coin issue: 25.02.2020.

The Presentation Case with the Reverse  of the 5 Euro coin face up.

The Presentation Case with the Obverse of the 5 Euro Silver Coin face up

Packaging: The Coin is presented in a coin box and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).

Other interesting posts on Greek Coinage and Commemorative Coins:

1) Coinage of Greece: The Four Ages of Greek Coinage of Antiquity 

 2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history 

3) Ancient Olympic Games on Greek coins of Antiquity

4) Modern Greek coins: Drachmas & Leptas; Commemorative Greek Drachma coins.

5) Coinage of Greece: (Part V): Modern Coins: 1) Greek Euro Coins: ii) Greek Commemorative Euro Coins

6) Battle of Marathon: Battles that changed History Coin Series: A $2, 1 Oz Silver coin minted by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Island in 2018

7) Herodotus (484 - 425 BC):" Father of History": First coin in the new coin Series titled "Greek Historians": A 10 Euro Silver Coin issued by the Bank of Greece on 30.05.2018

8) Olympian God Apollo: Greek Mythology Coin Series: A 100 Euro Gold Coin minted by the Hellenic State Mint and issued by the Bank of Greece on 19.09.2018

9) Greece: Deposits and Loans Fund: Centenary Celebrations (1919-2019): A Commemorative 5 Euro Cupro-nickel coin issued by the Bank of Greece on 19.03.2019

10) "Demeter", Greek Mythology - "The Olympian Gods": Goddess of Agriculture: A Gold Coin of 100 Euro: Coin issue date: 03.07.2019

11) Alcaeus of Mytilene, Greek Poet (620-560 BC), Greece: "Greek Culture Coin Series" : A Silver Proof Crown Coin issued by the Bank of Greece:Issue Date: 17.09.2019

12) 2,500 years since the Battle of Thermopylae: A 10 Euro Silver Proof Coin and a 2 Euro Cupro-Nickel-Brass Coin brought out by the Bank of Greece: Date of Coin issue:11.03.2020

13) Ancient Greek Theatres, Greece: Hellenic Post has brought out a set of five stamps featuring the Ancient Theatres of Dodona, Nocopolis, Kassope, Amvrakia and Gitana (all in Epirus): Stamp issue date: 08.04.2020

14) "MYRTIS", Greece: A 5 Euro Silver Coin dedicated to an 11 year old girl who was a victim of the PLague of Athens (430-426 BC) issued by the Bank of Greece: Coin issue date: 25.02.2020