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Saturday, 6 April 2024

3239) Archimedes Screw Component, Greece: Ancient Greek Technology features on 120 Euro Silver Proof and colour Coins highlighting Archimedes Screw Component: Date/Year of Coin issue: 28.03.2024:

 

3239) Archimedes Screw Component, Greece: Ancient Greek Technology features on 120 Euro Silver Proof and colour Coins highlighting Archimedes Screw Component: Date/Year of Coin issue: 28.03.2024:

The Bank of Greece has released their latest silver proof collector coins in an innovative entitled Ancient Greek Technology focusing on some of the most inventive devices which emerged during the Hellenic antiquities era.

The Header shows the Reverse and Obverse of the 10 Euro Silver Coin. The Header is titled - "ARCHIMEDES SCREW".

Featured is the Archimedes Screw component, ancient technology still utilised today

Named for its inventor, the Greek mathematician Archimedes of Syracuse (237-212 BC), the second coin highlights the genius of the Archimedes screw, a device for raising water. The Archimedes screw is essentially a hollow tube that contains a spiral or helix that winds its way up the cylinder. The bottom end of the tube is then placed in a body of water, and the spiral is rotated. As the screw turns, it scoops up some of the water. Further turns raise the water through consecutive pockets of the helix until it reaches the top of the tube. There’s evidence that the Archimedes screw was in use during the Hellenistic period of ancient Egyptian history, in around the 3rd century BC. At that time, the Archimedes screw was used to raise water from the Nile, functioning as an irrigation tool.

Why or how did this marvellous invention come to be? One theory suggests that Archimedes invented the screw pump as a solution to the Syracusian King Hiero (r. 275 – 215 BC) who had ordered that a tool be created to remove water from the hull of a ship, which led Archimedes to create the screw pump. The Archimedes screw would go on to serve as a vital aid for irrigation across the ancient world, typically as a means of raising water from rivers and lakes into agricultural lands.

To this day, screw pumps are used in water treatment plants around the world to move water and sewage. The technology has also been applied worldwide to enable water fountains to function. If water is directed or flushed into the top of an Archimedes screw, Rather than the bottom, it forces the spiral to rotate independently and this action can then be utilised as a form of electricity generation. Hydro-generating pumps of this sort were first used on the River Thames in England, and the electricity generated was directed in Windsor Castle, one of the first structures to benefit from such technology.

Another interesting invention by Archimedes was during the battle of Syracuse, when the city was besieged by the Romans - 

Archimedes' claw:

Archimedes is said to have designed a claw as a weapon to defend the city of Syracuse. Also known as "the ship shaker", the claw consisted of a crane-like arm from which a large metal grappling hook was suspended. When the claw was dropped onto an attacking ship the arm would swing upwards, lifting the ship out of the water and possibly sinking it.

The Coins:

The coins have been minted by the Bank of Greece’s own Minting facilities in Athens and designed by artisan engraver George Stamatopoulos.

The Obverse of the 10 Euro Silver Coin depicts a portion of an Archimedes screw with the gears, handle and spiral visible. 

To the right is a vertical blue ribbon symbolising both water and the helix which is the primary element of the invention. 

Shown to the right is the year of release, 2024 and to the lower left is the distinctive mintmark of the Greek Mint, a stylised palmette. 

Surrounding the primary design is the inscription "ΑΡΧΑΙΑ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΤΕΧΝΟΛΟΓΙΑ - Ο ΚΟΧΛΊΑΣ ΤΟΥ ΑΡΧΙΜΉΔΗ" (meaning "Ancient Greek technology – Archimedes' screw") along with a frame of flat-head screw tops. 

The primary design and blue ribbon is highlighted by elements of subtle colour tint. 

The Reverse of the 10 Euro Silver Coin depicts a stylised representation of both the application and movement of the Archimedes screw. 

Located to the lower left is the crest of the Hellenic Republic with the text "ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΉ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΊΑ" ("Hellenic Republic") and the coins’ denomination "10 EYPΩ" ("10 Euro") shown just under the crest.

The specifications of the Silver Coin are:

Country: Greece; Denomination: 10 Euro; Metal Composition:  .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 34.1 grams; Diameter/Size: 40.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof and Colour Coins (PAC); DesignerGeorge Stamatopoulos; MintBank of Greece’s own Minting facilities in Athens; Mintage: 2.000 pieces.

- The Coins are encapsulated and presented in a Bank of Greece-branded custom wood case accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).








Links to other posts on European Capital of Culture:

i) "Valetta", European Capital of Culture - A Commemorative Coin issued by the Royal Dutch Mint (RDM) for the Central Bank of Malta and Malta Post celebrating the designation by issue of a 10 Euro Silver Coin and a silver fol replica stamp on 22.05.2018

ii) "Leewarden", European Capital of Culture - 2018: Commemorating Coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint (RDM) celebrating the designation by issue of 10 Euro Gold Coins, 5 Euro Silver Coins and 5 Euro Silver plated Coins in April 2018

iii) Rijeka (Republic of Croatia) and Galway (Republic of Ireland) declared "European Capitals of Culture - 2020": A Joint-Stamp issue brought out by Croatian Post and An Post celebrating the designation: Stamps issue date: 23.01,2020

iv) Bergamo and Brescia, Italy: Five Euro Commemorative Copper Coins issued by Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato Italiano (IPZS) commemorate the designated Italian Cultural Capital Cities: Date/Year of Coin issue: 20.02.2023

v) Veszprem-Balaton, Hungary: Magyar Posta (Hungarian Post) has issued a postage stamp of 1250 HUF (Hungarian Forint) commemorating the Hungarian City designated as the 2023 European Capital of Culture City - "VEB2023 ECoC": Date/Year of Stamp issue: 02.08.2023

vi) Elefsina, Greece: A 6.00 Euro Silver Coin commemorates the Greek City designated as the 2023 European Capital of Culture City: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023

Links to other posts on European Capitals of Culture Posts - 2024:





Greek Mythology Coin Series:







Other interesting posts on Greek Coinage and Commemorative Coins:

 2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history 





















2 comments:

  1. Santosh Khanna has commented:
    "Thanks for sharing this interesting and informative post."

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    1. Thank you so much for visiting this post, Khanna sahab.

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