4475) “The Labours of Hercules", "Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία) of Greece: The Bank of Greece (BOG) has issued three coins 100€ Coins minted by Bank of Greece (IETA – Νομισματοκοπείο) depicting three of his Labours: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2026:
The Greeks had an eventful and tumultuous history, littered with wars, foreign invasions and conquests, until they founded the modern Greek state in the 19th century. They managed to navigate these turbulent waters, maintain their language and survive as a nation over the millennia because they have always prized military valour, one of the cardinal virtues of a Greek across time. No wonder, Greek history is full of examples of heroism and glory.
Greek, and admittedly all of European, literature starts with Homer’s Iliad, an epic almost 16 thousand verses long that celebrates the “glorious deeds of heroes”.
The plot gets rolling with a quarrel between the Greek commander-in-chief in the Trojan War, Agamemnon, and his most formidable fighter, Achilles, who was raised on the precept “always to be the bravest and to surpass all others”. Achilles’ wrath is the first theme in our new series of gold coins dedicated to Homer’s Iliad.
The Wrath of Achilles:
Hercules, the greatest Greek hero, is the theme of a new series of collector silver coins dedicated to The labours of Hercules, to be issued in puzzle coin sets.
The Labours of Hercules:
The series starts with three coins that piece together to tell the story of the first three labours: the killing of the Nemean lion and the Lernaean Hydra and the capture of the Ceryneian hind.
Heinrich Schliemann, polyglot, millionaire, adventurer and visionary, made it the purpose of his life to prove that Homer’s world had indeed existed. One hundred and fifty years ago, after unearthing Troy, he began excavations at Mycenae. The most spectacular among his finds was the “Mask of Agamemnon”, as Schliemann named it, believing to have found the grave of the legendary king. This exquisite artifact is depicted on this year’s coin in our Cultural heritage series.
The 1820s, the decade when the Greeks fought for and won their independence, abounds in acts of heroism, glory, and often sacrifice. An unparalleled example is the Exodus of Messolonghi, to which we dedicate both a silver collector and a 2-euro circulation coin to mark the bicentennial of the event.
Together we honour with a silver coin the Swiss philhellene Johann Jakob Meyer, father of Greek journalism, who was killed during the Exodus (Philhellenes series). Memories of the heroic last stand of the defenders of the Sacred City of Messolonghi haunt the region of Aetolia-Acarnania this year’s theme of our Tourism series.
200 Years from the Exodus of Messolonghi:
Ioannis Kapodistrias, who is portrayed on our most precious coin in this year’s programme, was a diplomat of international renown who helped the Greek Revolution in its vulnerable first phase and later made the first serious state-building effort as Governor of Greece.
Like every war, the Greek Revolution produced not only heroes, but also victims among the civilian population, including refugees.
To these people we turn ourattention with a silver coin dedicated to 200 hundred years from the naming of Hermoupolis. Built on the island of Syros by refugees from several places devastated by the Turks, the new city thrived thanks to commerce and industry, becoming the gem of the Cyclades.
Turning to our long-standing series, we are issuing silver coins that feature Aristarchos of Samos, the first proponent of the heliocentric theory (in the Mathematicians series), and the hydraulis of Ktesibios, the first ever keyboard instrument (in our Ancient Greek technology series).
Link to post on Aristarchos on this Blog:
Next in our Endangered fauna of Greece series is the Milos viper (Macrovipera schweizeri), the most threatened reptile species in Greece.
One of the best known animal fables is the Lion and the mouse, which features on this year’s coin in our Aesop’s fables series.
We are also launching a new series dedicated to the lighthouses of Greece, starting with the Tourlitis lighthouse of Andros.
Finally, we celebrate important anniversaries by a silver coin commemorating 150 years from the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell and a 2-euro circulation coin to mark 100 years from the foundation of the Academy of Athens, guardian of the Greek language and culture.
I will keep on adding the links to my posts of the Greek Coinage this year to keep the visitors abreast with the stories.
THE LABOURS OF HERCULES:
Hercules, the greatest of Greek heroes, was son of Zeus to a mortal mother, Alcmene.
Ever jealous of her husband’s illegitimate offspring, Hera persecuted Hercules with implacable enmity throughout his life.
She sent serpents to Thebes to attack Hercules in his cradle, but the infant strangled them. Hercules had a claim to the throne of the Argolid through his mortal father, Amphitryon.
Indeed Zeus had destined him to be king, but his plan was foiled by Hera’s ruse and Hercules became instead a vassal of Eurystheus. Hera drove Hercules mad and caused him to murder his Theban wife, Megara, and their children.
Hercules was sent to perform his 12 labours by Eurystheus, possibly to expiate his crime.
The first six labours (the killing of the Nemean lion and the Lernaean Hydra, the capture of the Ceryneian hind and the Erymanthian boar, the cleaning of the Augean stables and the killing of the Stymphalian birds) are situated in the Peloponnese,
while the other six labours brought him to the ends of the habitable world and beyond: the Cretan bull to the South; the horses of the Thracian Diomedes to the North; the quest for the girdle of the Amazon queen Hippolyte to the East; the search for the cattle of Geryon to the West; the apples of the Hesperides to the edge of the world; and Cerberus, the hound of Hades, to the netherworld.
Several other feats were attributed to Hercules, either as independent exploits or as incidents in the course of the labours proper: the first sack of Troy, a Centauromachy, participation in the Argonautic Expedition, etc.
After being inadvertently poisoned by his second wife, Deianira, he self-immolated on Mount Oeta.
Throughout his life and many adventures, Hercules was supported by Athena, by whom he was introduced to Olympus after his death.
Thus, he became immortal and was given the goddess Hebe as wife.
His cult was very popular across the Greek world, especially in his birthplace, Thebes.
He represented the manly ideal and was worshipped as protecting deity, averter of evil and patron of ephebes.
His descendants (the Heraclids) returned to the Peloponnese at the head of a Dorian army and conquered it, with the exception of Arcadia.
The royal houses of Sparta and Macedon claimed him as their ancestor, and Alexander the Great was often depicted wearing a lion’s pelt like Hercules.
The set of the first three Coins issued on him depicting three of Hercules' Labours:
The Bank of Greece will issue a special 2026 proof coin set titled “The Labours of Hercules”, featuring three coins that depict Hercules’ legendary feats. Only 300 sets will be minted, each packaged in a wooden box with a certificate of authenticity.
2026 Greece Mint Coin – "The Labours of Hercules":
The 2026 release is the first triple coin set in the Hercules series.
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Each coin highlights one of the labours:
1) The Nemean Lion: Depicts Hercules slaying the invulnerable lion.
"Symbolises strength and courage."
2) The Lernaean Hydra:
Obverse: Hercules battling the multi-headed Hydra;
Reverse: Mature Hercules wearing the lion pelt.
3) The Ceryneian Hind: Depicts Hercules capturing the sacred hind of Artemis.
"Represents endurance and divine challenge".
Design Features on the Obverse: Each coin shows Hercules in action against the mythical creature.
Design Features on the Reverse: Common design with Hercules in lion pelt, inscription “THE 12 LABOURS OF HERCULES”, denomination, and Greek National Coat of Arms.
The Emblem of Greece, (or the Coat of Arms), features a white cross on a blue shield surrounded by two laurel branches, symbolising Christianity and victory. Its current form was officially adopted in 1975 after the establishment of the Third Hellenic Republic.
Design and Symbolism:
Shield: Blue background with a white cross, representing the Greek flag and the Christian faith.
Laurel branches: Traditionally green, but often depicted in monochrome blue for official use. Gold laurel leaves are used in military insignia and on the presidential standard.
Cross: Symbolises the role of Christianity in Greek identity and independence.
The specifications of these Coins are:
Series Title: "The Labours of Hercules"
Year of Issue: 2026
Mint: Bank of Greece (IETA – Νομισματοκοπείο)
Denomination: 9€ (x 2 Coins) & 12€ (one Coin)
DIAMETER: 40.00 mm
WEIGHT: 1.00 gr
EDGE: Plain
Metal Composition:
Packaging: Wooden box with Certificate of Authenticity (COA)
Maximum issue: 300 sets (extremely limited)
Minting quality: Proof (P)
Mintmark: Palmette symbol of the Greek Mint.
Edge: Plain
Numismatic Programme: 2026
The Presentation Box/Case for storing the three Coins issued in the set.
2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history
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
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
Other interesting posts on Greek Coinage and Commemorative Coins:
2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history
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
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Thanks for sharing this informative post."
Thank you so much, Khanna sahab.
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