Sunday, 10 July 2022

2422) "Peony or Paeony (Paeonia parnassica)", Hellenic Republic of Greece: "Environment - Endemic Flora of Greece Coin Series": A €5 (Five Euro) Silver Coin minted issued by the Mint of Greece on behalf of the Bank of Greece commemorates this flowering plant with healing properties: Date of Coin issue: 2022:

2422) "Peony or Paeony (Paeonia parnassica)", Hellenic Republic of Greece: "Environment - Endemic Flora of Greece Coin Series": A €5 (Five Euro) Silver Coin  minted issued by the Mint of Greece on behalf of the Bank of Greece commemorates this flowering plant with healing properties: Date of Coin issue: 2022:

“ENVIRONMENT - ENDEMIC FLORA OF GREECE - PAEONIA PARNASSICA”:

The peony or paeony is a flowering plant in the genus Paeonia, the only genus in the family Paeoniaceae. Peonies are native to Asia, Europe and Western North America. 

Of the numerous plants of Greece, few can rival the wild peony in beauty and splendour. 

The peony has, since antiquity, been praised as "the queen of all herbs" for the incomparable beauty of its large flowers and its healing properties.

 Its antimicrobial and antiseptic properties have been confirmed by modern studies. 

It was named Paeonia after the God of Healing Paeon, who cured Hades from a wound inflicted by an arrow of Herakles and Ares from a wound sustained during the Trojan War

Seven species of peony are found in Greece, of which "Paeonia clusii" (Crete, Karpathos and Rhodes) and "Paeonia parnassica" (Mounts Parnassos and Elikonas) are Greek endemics. 

Most are herbaceous perennial plants 0.25–1 metre (1–3 ft) tall, but some are woody shrubs 0.25–3.5 metres (1–11 ft) tall. 

They have compound, deeply lobed leaves and large, often fragrant flowers, in colours ranging from purple and pink to red, white or yellow, in late spring and early summer. The flowers have a short blooming season, usually only 7–10 days.

Peonies are popular garden plants in temperate regions. Herbaceous peonies are also sold as cut flowers on a large scale, although generally only available in late spring and early summer.

The Coin:

On the Reverse of the  €5 (5 Euro) Silver Proof-like Coin is seen a coloured image of the Peony flower. The peripheral inscriptions on the right include the name of the peony flower in Greek.

The mint mark of the Mint of Greece is to the centre right, below which is the year of issue "2022".

On the Obverse of the €5 (Five Euro) Silver Proof-like Coin  is seen a dissection of the Peony flower with the flower and  four leaves represented separately.

Below the flower and above the leaves is the privy mark of the mint master.

Towards the lower periphery is the Coat of Arms/Emblem of the Hellenic Republic and the denomination of the 5 EURO" (in Greek).

On the upper periphery is the inscription - "ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΕΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ" which is pronounced  as "(H)ellenik(eh) Democratia" (meaning the "Greek Democracy")

The specification of the €5 (Five Euro) Silver Coin are:

Country of issue: Hellenic Republic of Greece; Date/Year: 2022; Coin Series Theme: "ENVIRONMENT - ENDEMIC FLORA OF GREECE"; Coin Theme: "Paeonia Parnassica" or the "Peony"; Denomination/Face Value: €5 (Five Euro); Metal Composition: .333 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 17.00 grams; Diameter/Size: 31.00 mm;  Coin Quality: Proof-like; Mint: Mint of Greece, on behalf of the Bank of Greece; Edge: Plain; Mintage: 5,000 pieces; Designer: M. Antonatou; 

Packaging: Blister Pack.


Other interesting posts on Greek Coinage and Commemorative Coins:

 2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history 














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