The Earliest Gold Coins Were Made in Greece
Greece is the earliest part of Europe to use coinage, having copied the idea off the kingdom of Lydia in what is now western Turkey in the 7th Century B.C.
Almost all coins of ancient Greece are desirable and collectable, and gold coins quite rare.
This page relates to gold coins of modern Greece, any from Ancient Greece would normally be featured on our original website www.24carat.co.uk
.
According to the CIA Website:
Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and Communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981 Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.
We are not sure whether the CIA don't know are don't care about Greek history before 1829. Perhaps to most American minds, this would be pre-history!
Specifications
Technical specifications of the most frequently encountered Greek gold coins.
| Denomination | Diameter | Weight | Alloy | AGW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20 Drachmas
|
21.35 | 6.4516 | 0.9000 | 0.1867 |
|
100 Drachmas
|
35 | 32.2580 | 0.9000 | 0.9335 |
|
100 Euro
|
25 | 10 | 0.9999 | 0.3215 |
Key
Diameter = Approximate Diameter in millimetres.
Weight = Weight in grams.
Alloy = Fineness of gold.
AGW = Actual fine gold weight in troy ounces.
Prices & Availability
Please telephone prior to ordering for current prices and availability.
| Date | Denomination | Description | Mintage | Grade | Availability | Price £ | Price $ |
| 1884 | 20 Drachma | George I | 550,000 | VF | Sold | £275 | $440 |
| 1967 | 100 Drachma | Revolution Commemorative, Issued 1970 | 10,000 | Unc | Sold | £950 | $1,795 |
| 2004 | 100 Euro | Olympics | 28,000 | Proof | Ask | £440 | $700 |
Postage & Packing
UK Registered Post (Special Delivery) £9 per order
EU Insured Post £10 per order
USA Airmail $10 per order
USA Insured Shipping $20 per order
Greek Silver and Base Metal Coins
For silver and base metal coins of Greece, please look at our original Chard Coins
website.
Coins Wanted We make an active market in almost all world coins, gold or otherwise, including Greek gold coins. If you have any of these coins to sell, please contact us, or post them to us for appraisal and offer.
Obverse of 2004 Greek 100 Euros
Reverse of 2004 Greek 100 Euros
Obverse of 1967 Greek 100 Drachmas
Reverse of 1967 Greek 100 Drachmas
George I on Obverse of 1884 Greek 20 Drachmas
Reverse of 1884 Greek 20 Drachmas
32 - 36 Harrowside, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 1RJ, England. Telephone (44) - (0) 1253 - 343081; Fax 408058;
E-mail: Contact Us The URL for our main page is: taxfreegold.co.uk