Greek euro coins - Definition and Overview

The euro (EUR or €) is the common currency for twelve member states of the European Union, including Greece. The euro coins have two different sides; one common, European side showing the value of the coin and one national side featuring a design chosen by the EU member state where the coin was minted. Each member state has one or more designs unique to that country.

For images of the common side and a detailed description of the coins, see Euro coins.

Greek euro coins feature a unique design for every one of the eight coins. They were all designed by Georgios Stamatopoulos with the minor coins depicting Greek ships, the middle ones famous Greeks and the two large denominations examples of Greek history and mythology. All designs feature the 12 stars of the EU and the year of imprint. Unique to the national side of Greek coins is that the value of the coin is expressed in the Greek alphabet. Also, the euro cent is called the lepton (λεπτον; plural lepta, λεπτα) in Greek, unlike other languages which borrowed the word cent.

Depiction of Greek euro coinage | Obverse side

€ 0.01	€ 0.02	€ 0.05
An Athenian trireme of the 5th century BC	A corvette (or dromon) of the early 19th century	A modern tanker, symbol of Greek enterprise
€ 0.10	€ 0.20	€ 0.50
Rigas Velestinlis-Fereos 1757-1798, Greek poet	Ioannis Kapodistrias 1776- 1831, Greek statesman	Eleftherios Venizelos 1864- 1936, Greek politician
€ 1.00	€ 2.00	€ 2.00 Commemorative coin
Picture of a 5th cen. BC 1 drachma coin of Athens (a coin in a coin)	The abduction of Europa by Zeus in the form of a bull	A 2 € commemorative coin for the Olympic Games held in Athens.

In the 2 € Coin Edge the words Hellenic Republic in Greek and in Greek script can be found.

External links

• European Central Bank (www.euro.ecb.int) (http://www.euro.ecb.int)
• Bank of Greece (www.bankofgreece.gr) (http://www.bankofgreece.gr)
• the 2004 Greek 2 € commemorative coin  (http://www.muenzenmagazin.de/startseite0401/2_EUR-Gedenkmz.htm)