4486) “250 YEARS FROM THE BIRTH OF IOANNIS KAPODISTRIAS (1776-1831)," Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δηομκρατία) of Greece: The Bank of Greece (BOG) has issued 200€ (Gold) and 10€ Silver Coins minted by Bank of Greece (IETA – Νομισματοκοπείο) celebrating the milestone: 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 Mask of Agamemnon:
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:
Tourism - Aetolia-Acarnania:
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.
250 Years from the Birth of Ioannis Kapodistrias:
Like every war, the Greek Revolution produced not only heroes, but also victims among the civilian population, including refugees.
To these people we turn our attention 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:
The Hydraulis of Ktesibios:
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.
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.
250 YEARS FROM THE BIRTH OF IOANNIS KAPODISTRIAS (1776-1831):
Ioannis Kapodistrias (1776–1831), was a distinguished diplomat and the first Governor of Greece.
Born into a noble family of Corfu in 1776 when the island was under Venetian rule, Ioannis Kapodistrias (Count Capo d’Istria) studied medicine, philosophy and law in Italy.
Returning to Corfu, he engaged in local politics, before entering the
Russian diplomatic service in 1808.
As an envoy of Tsar Alexander I, Kapodistrias contributed to the shaping of the Swiss Confederation and the drafting of its constitution (1815), earning Switzerland’s lasting gratitude.
He represented Russia at the Congress of Vienna, influencing European balance-of-power politics after the Napoleonic Wars.
Although he considered the Greek Revolution premature, as Russian foreign minister he worked to forestall an intervention of the Great Powers in favour of the Ottoman Empire. He was eventually sidelined and took leave in 1822.
He was elected by the Third National Assembly as the first Governor of Greece in 1827 and used his diplomatic prowess to secure Greece’s recognition as an independent state and obtain further territorial gains.
As Governor of Greece (1827–1831), he laid the foundations of the modern Greek state, establishing administrative, economic, and military structures, and promoting education and agriculture, and the crafts.
He worked tirelessly to build institutions from scratch:
- Established a centralised administration.
- Reorganised the army and navy.
- Promoted agriculture and education.
- Introduced a new currency, the Phoenix, to stabilise the economy.
Challenges & Assassination:
His reforms often clashed with local elites and powerful families who resisted central authority.
However, he met with strong opposition from entrenched interests, which led to his assassination on 27 September 1831.
His reforms faced resistance, and on 27 September 1831, he was assassinated in Nafplio by members of the Mavromichalis clan, cutting short his vision for a modern Greek state.
Legacy:
He is remembered as a founder of modern Greece and a rare statesman who combined European diplomacy with national leadership.
His influence extended beyond Greece - Switzerland still honours him as a key architect of its neutrality and federal system.
Kapodistrias is often seen as a tragic figure — a visionary reformer whose ambitious plans were ahead of his time, but whose uncompromising style cost him his life.
The Gold and Silver Coins:
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.
In the centre is the denomination of the coin - "10 EURO" (in Greek), below which is the "Palmette" Mint Mark of the Greek Mint.
Technical specifications of the Gold Coin:
DENOMINATION: 200€
DIAMETER/Size: 22.10
mm
WEIGHT: 7.98
gr
EDGE: Milled
METAL COMPOSITION/MATERIAL: Gold
(Au) 917‰, Silver (Ag) 53‰
PACKAGING: Wooden
box with Certificate of Authenticity (COA)
MAXIMUM ISSUE: 1,000
pieces
MINTING QUALITY: Proof
(P) with microtext (security feature)
Designer: G.
Stamatopoulos
The specifications of
the Silver Coin Variant:
DENOMINATION: 10€
DIAMETER: 40.00
mm
WEIGHT: 34.10
gr
EDGE: Plain
METAL COMPOSITION/MATERIAL: Silver
(Ag) 92.5%
PACKAGING: Wooden
box with Certificate of Authenticity (COA)
MAXIMUM ISSUE: 1,500
pieces
MINTING QUALITY: Proof
(P)
DESIGNER: G.
Stamatopoulos
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
37) "200 Years from the Exodus of Messolonghi": A dramatic event during the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829), Hellenic Republic of Greece: The Bank of Greece (BOG) has issued a 2 Euro Commemorative Bimetallic Coin remembering the martyrs of the Exodus: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2026ublic of Greece: The Bank of Greece (BOG) has issued a 100 Euro Gold Proof Coin depicting this famous scene from Homer's Iliad: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2026
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:
Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very descriptive and interesting post."
Thank you so much, Trikha sahab.
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