5 Euro The Phoenix

Reverse

The reverse of the silver phoenix depicts the mythical bird, its wings outspread and its gaze turned to the Cross and the rays of the Holy Spirit. Encircling the theme is the inscription «ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΠΟΛΙΤΕΙΑ» (“GREEK STATE”). Below, the Greek letter-numerals «αωκα΄» correspond to the year 1821.

Script: Greek

Lettering:
200 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΜΕΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΕΠΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΗ
5 ΕΥΡΩ
ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ

Translation:
200 YEARS SINCE THE REVOLUTION
5 EURO
HELLENIC REPUBLIC

Engraver: Geórgios Stamatópoulos

Edge

Plain

Comment

One of the first measures taken by Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias to organise the newly established Greek state, assert its independence and replace foreign currencies in transactions was to issue a national currency. On 29 July 1828, the Fourth National Assembly of Argos introduced the first modern Greek monetary system, based on the “phoenix”, divided into 100 lepta. The first silver phoenix coins were struck on 27 June 1829 in the courtyard of Kapodistrias’s house in Aegina under the supervision of Alexandros Kontostavlos, on a 1530 press purchased from the Knights of St John of Malta. The first dies were engraved by goldsmith Hatzi-Grigoris Pyrovolistis, followed later by Georgios Papakonstantopoulos, Georgios Dimitrakopoulos and Dimitrios Kontos. The currency was named after the mythical phoenix, the bird that rises from its ashes, symbolising Greece’s rebirth.

Interesting fact

Price

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
2021	125000	-	-	-	-	-	-

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 5 Euro (The Phoenix) 2021 coin.