
2021 greek numismatic program
- February 03, 2021
- by
- Pierre

Last update, 02/03/2021
Bank of Greece unveiled on friday 11/13/2020 its 2021 numismatic program guidelines.
The 2021 program is composed of two parts. The first one will be issued by Bank of GREECE, and the second one will be issued by “GREECE 2021” COMMITTTEE.
PART ONE – BANK OF GREECE ANNUAL NUMISMATIC PROGRAM
€2 commemorative coin
The coin is dedicated to 200 years since greek revolution” (maximum mintage 1,470,000 coins for circulation, 10 000 proof coins and 20 000 BU coins)
The secessionist revolution broke out in the Peloponnese with the metropolitan Germanos in March 1821 and progressed very quickly thanks to the kleftes (a kind of mountain bandits) and sailors.
The Turks took revenge by massacring 10,000 Greeks from Constantinople and hanging the patriarch (who, however, was in favor of the status quo). In October 1821, all the Peloponnese is free (thus some external cities: Thebes, Athens, Missolonghi). In December, a constituent assembly is created in Epidaurus.
On January 13, 1822, the government of Mavrocordatos proclaimed independence.
5000 Drachmas banknote Theodoros Kolokotronis,
greek national heroes of the 1821 revolution
However, Greece was again invaded entirely by Turkish troops and it was not until the intervention of foreign powers (Russia, France and Great Britain) between 1827 and 1831 that Greece was definitively independent. The royalty was established in favor of a German prince, Othon de WITTELBACH, who presented a guarantee of neutrality between the Russian and English expansionist aims.
Greece celebrated its independence on March 25.
Collectors coins
- €100 GOLD COLLECTOR COIN DEDICATED TO: “GREEK MYTHOLOGY – THE OLYMPIAN GODS – APHRODITE” (maximum issue 1,200 coins)
Aphrodite – Musée du Louvres, Paris
- €50 GOLD COLLECTOR COIN DEDICATED TO: “CULTURAL HERITAGE – THE PORTARA OF NAXOS” (maximum issue 1,500 coins).
City of NAXOS, capital of the island of the same name
- BLISTER PACK WITH A COLLECTOR SILVER €5 COIN DEDICATED TO: “ENVIRONMENT – ENDEMIC FLORA OF GREECE – CAMPANULA SAXATILIS” (maximum issue 5,000 coins).
The Campanula
- €5 SILVER COLLECTOR COIN DADICATED TO: “2021 POPULATION – HOUSING CENSUS” (maximum issue 2,000 coins)
BU SET – Spécial édition
A BU SET CONTAINING ALL EIGHT DENOMINATIONS OF 2021 GREEK EURO COINS, DEDICATED TO: “TOURISM – NAXOS” (maximum issue 10,000 coins). 4 000 sets will be allocated to collectors and 6 000 sets to numismatic dealers.
PART TWO: 2021 GREECE COMMITTEE ANNUAL NUMISMATIC PROGRAM
A UNIQUE COLLECTION OF COLLECTING COINS, AVAILABLE TO ALL
The Commission’s Monetary Programme “Greece 2021” was implemented by decision of the Ministry of Finance and courtesy of the Bank of Greece, on the recommendation of the Commission.
It includes the issuance of 14 coins of rare collectible value, in which the internationally awarded engravers of the Hellenic Mint imprinted, with their unique technique, emblematic moments in the history of modern Greece, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Revolution.
The matrices (coin dies) for the production of the coins will be destroyed as soon as the production of the predicted number for each of them is completed. The revenue will be allocated exclusively to the implementation of the proposals submitted to the Commission.
BIMETALLIC COINS WITH POLYMER RING
These two coins celebrate the two first coinages of Greece in greek modern history.
Bimetallic coin, The Phoenix of 1828
Nominal value: 5€
Diameter: 27.25 mm
Weight: 9 grams
Crown shape: smooth
Crown thickness: 2.20mm
Metal: CuNi25/CuNi19, polymer ring
Maximum print quantity: 125,000 pieces
Print quality: Brilliant unreleased
Artist: Georgios Stamatopoulos
Collector’s artist: Virtue Michelioudakis
Mint: Bank of Greece/I.E.T.A
Packaging: Coin Card Blister
Bimettalic coin – The Drachma of 1832
Nominal value: 5€
Diameter: 27.25 mm
Weight: 9 grams
Crown shape: smooth
Crown thickness: 2.20mm
Metal: CuNi25/CuNi19, polymer ring
Maximum print quantity: 125,000 pieces
Print quality: Brilliant unreleased
Artist: Georgios Stamatopoulos
Artist Packaging Editor: Special Products Printing Department of Greece
Mint: Bank of Greece/I.E.T.A
Packaging: Coin Card Blister
SILVER COINS AND SETS
THEODOR OF COLOCOTRONIS – The First Greek State (1830)
Nominal value: 10 €
Diameter: 40 mm
Weight: 34.10 grams
Crown shape: smooth
Metal: Silver (Ag) 92,5 %
Print quantity: 4,000 pieces
Printing quality: Elaborate cutting (proof)
Currency artist: Giorgos Stamatopoulos
REGAS FERAIOS VELESTINLIS – The integration of Thessaly and part of Epirus (Arta)
Nominal value: 10 €
Diameter: 40 mm
Weight: 34.10 grams
Crown shape: smooth
Metal: Silver (Ag) 92,5 %
Print quantity: 4,000 pieces
Printing quality: Elaborate cutting (proof)
Currency artist: Giorgos Stamatopoulos
IOANNIS KAPODISTRIAS – The integration of the Ionian Islands (1864)
Nominal value: 10 €
Diameter: 40 mm
Weight: 34.10 grams
Crown shape: smooth
Metal: Silver (Ag) 92,5 %
Print quantity: 4,000 pieces
Printing quality: Elaborate cutting (proof)
Currency artist: Giorgos Stamatopoulos
ATHANASIOS CHASALOF – The integration of Epirus
Nominal value: 10 €
Diameter: 40 mm
Weight: 34.10 grams
Crown shape: smooth
Metal: Silver (Ag) 92,5 %
Print quantity: 4,000 pieces
Printing quality: Elaborate cutting (proof)
Currency artist: Giorgos Stamatopoulos
MELAS PAYLOS – The integration of Macedonia and the islands of the North
and Eastern Aegean (1913)
Nominal value: 10 €
Diameter: 40 mm
Weight: 34.10 grams
Crown shape: smooth
Metal: Silver (Ag) 92,5 %
Print quantity: 4,000 pieces
Printing quality: Elaborate cutting (proof)
Currency artist: Giorgos Stamatopoulos
VENIZELOS – The integration of Crete (1913)
Nominal value: 10 €
Diameter: 40 mm
Weight: 34.10 grams
Crown shape: smooth
Metal: Silver (Ag) 92,5 %
Print quantity: 4,000 pieces
Printing quality: Elaborate cutting (proof)
Currency artist: Giorgos Stamatopoulos
THE KYRA OF RO – The integration of the Dodecanese (1947)
Nominal value: 10 €
Diameter: 40 mm
Weight: 34.10 grams
Crown shape: smooth
Metal: Silver (Ag) 92,5 %
Print quantity: 4,000 pieces
Printing quality: Elaborate cutting (proof)
Currency artist: Giorgos Stamatopoulos
GEORGE VIZYINOS – The integration of Thrace (1920)
Nominal value: 10 €
Diameter: 40 mm
Weight: 34.10 grams
Crown shape: smooth
Metal: Silver (Ag) 92,5 %
Print quantity: 4,000 pieces
Printing quality: Elaborate cutting (proof)
Currency artist: Giorgos Stamatopoulos
Common reverse with €10 face value of 2021 silver coins series
2021 Silver coins set
2021 Silver and gold coins set
GOLD COINS
The flag of the Friendly society (1814)
Nominal value: 200 €
Diameter: 22.10 mm
Weight: 7.98 grams
Crown shape: dentosis
Metal: Gold (Au) 917, Silver (Ag) 53
Maximum printing quantity: 1,000 pieces
Printing quality: Elaborate cutting (proof)
Currency artist: Maria Antonatu
Greek flag of 1821
Nominal value: 200 €
Diameter: 22.10 mm
Weight: 7.98 grams
Crown shape: dentosis
Metal: Gold (Au) 917, Silver (Ag) 53
Maximum printing quantity: 1,000 pieces
Printing quality: Elaborate cutting (proof)
Currency artist: Maria Antonatu
The greek flag of 1822
Nominal value: 200 €
Diameter: 22.10 mm
Weight: 7.98 grams
Crown shape: dentosis
Metal: Gold (Au) 917, Silver (Ag) 53
Maximum printing quantity: 1,000 pieces
Printing quality: Elaborate cutting (proof)
Currency artist: Maria Antonatu
The modern greek flag ( 1978)
Nominal value: 200 €
Diameter: 22.10 mm
Weight: 7.98 grams
Crown shape: dentosis
Metal: Gold (Au) 917, Silver (Ag) 53
Maximum printing quantity: 1,000 pieces
Printing quality: Elaborate cutting (proof)
Currency artist: Maria Antonatu
Common Reverse of gold coin series – greek flags
Sources: Bank of Greece and NUMISMAG.
6 Comments
ChrisV
5th Feb 2021 - 0 h 47 minGreat presentation. I would like to add that the committee’s program has been heavily criticized by many. Firstly the prices are absurd. The bimetallic ones are 40e each, the silver 200 and the gold are not sold separately but only the full set which cost 7680 euros(which given the math means that each gold is at 1500). Secondly there has been word that these coins are not for the collectors but for the “sponsors” of the committee and that’s why they are priced like that. Thirdly many collectors in Greece don’t consider them to be part of the annual coins although they were minted(free of charge) by the mint of Greece and it is rumored to be a reason that the normal program of the bank of Greece is so small.
Pierre
6th Feb 2021 - 9 h 52 minDear Chris,
Thank you for your interesting comment. As far as we are concerned we had some difficulties to understand these coins were not a private issue. Therefor we asked to the greek MOF. The representative of the MOF told us these coins were part of the greek annual program, issued by GREECE 2021 committee but under control of Bank of Greece and MOF. More over, these coins have a legal tender in GREECE and have a face value expressed in euro.
I understand perfectly your point of view as greek euro coins collector.
NUMISMAG as a numismatic media will not comment greek government decision.
All we can say is that such numismatic issue did exist in the past in FRANCE with a silver and a gold coins minted for G20 meeting during President SARKOSY mandate. These coins are very collectable and desirable to french collectors.
Best regards,
NUMISMAG TEAM
ChrisV
7th Feb 2021 - 18 h 35 minYou’re welcome. Yeah I know they are totally legal and not a private issue although the committee had to do with it but with the bank of Greece and the mint supporting and creating the program so totally legal and not private. In my previous comment, I just shared what greek collectors think. Personally, I think that if the tirage was less it would justify the high price and it would be much better.
Thanks for the answer and the awesome work you do.
Keep it up!
Jimmy papageorgiou
8th Feb 2021 - 16 h 48 minI am interested in purchasing coins
ALex
1st Mar 2021 - 14 h 54 minThis is interesting. I never thought about Greek coins before. Everybody is thinking about US coins only.
ChrisV
1st Oct 2021 - 12 h 52 minNoted that there has been an addition to the program. 80 years from the battle of Crete.