Some nice and rare coins from Greece

syraq

These coins are going to be auctioned tonight.I'll give a full report later.





Lot #2170
1000 Drachmai of the period 1946-1953, Pattern in aluminum, Obverse Hermes in winged cap looking right, Reverse bears the legend:"1000 ÄÑÁ×ÌÁÉ" and laurel branch, impeccable proof, weight: 2,15gr., diameter 28,3mm, thickness 1,8mm, engraver: Leo Holmgren, probably Paris Mint. Of the highest rarity, two pieces are known. &1000 Drachmai of the period 1946-1953, Uniface line engraving forthe previous pattern.
Notes:
Symbols: PN
Opening Bid: 12000 euros



Lot #2171
1000 Drachmai of the period 1946-1953, Pattern in silver, ObverseHermes in winged cap looking right, Reverse bears the legend: "1000 ÄÑÁ×ÌÁÉ" and laurel branch, impeccable proof with toning, weight: 8,87gr., diameter 28,3mm, thickness 1,9mm, engraver: Leo Holmgren, probably Paris Mint. The work of a master engraver, arguably the most historically significant modern greek coin of the 20th century and the only known specim++++(**ìåôÜ áðï ðáýëï**)
Notes:
Symbols: PN
Opening Bid: 35000



Lot #2174
Double specimen set 1954, 50 Lepta -1-2-5 Drachmai, "hollow cheek" variety housed in the original leather case of the Paris Mint,Initial unflattering design by the sculptor B.Falireas which wassubsequently modified by King Paul, Uncirculated and the only known such set. Provenance: Spink Auction No.5 , 17/18 May 1979,Lot260.
Notes:
Symbols: PN
Opening Bid: 3000



Lot #2179
10 Drachmai 1959, Presentation striking in gold, impaired proof ?almost uncirculated, Weight: 19,10gr. Of the highest rarity, 2 pieces are known from a total mintage of 10.Provenance: PETER IRELAND.
Notes:
Symbols: PN
Opening Bid: 33000



Lot #2183
30 Drachmai 1964, presentation striking in proof, in original case intended for two coins so as to display both obverse and reverse. On the satin lining inside the lid there is the legend "WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE" in gold colored lettering, Bern mint, Proof FDC. The only known specimen.
Notes:
Symbols: PROOF
Opening Bid: 3900



Lot #2116
2 dr.(A 1873) "George A!,King of Greeks" in silver PROOF.Beautiful grey & purple patina. (KM 39).Extremely rare (5-7 pieces known).
Notes:
Symbols: PN
Opening Bid: 3300


edited to change the title

Philip

Oh, hello, Mr. Deep Pockets

Seriously, this is an extraordinary bunch. Thanks for sharing

Edited to add: The gold 100 Drachmai is listed in Krause at $5,000, so I'll pass on this one

syraq

Philip,

I won't be bidding on any of these. A couple of inexpensive eye poppers are on my list, that's all, otherwise I'm going for a memorable day.


The 1000 drs patterns are unique,unlisted and never seen before, at least by none of the bidders tonight from what I asked. It's prior to the monetary reform of 53, that omitted three zeros (a method still used to this day by countries with currencies in trouble, as noted in your thread ) . No Greek coins were minted between 1930 and 1954. Serious collectors from the US have come to participate live, it's days like this one that make this hobby worthwhile.

MacCrimmon

<< <i>Serious collectors from the US have come to participate live, it's days like this one that make this hobby worthwhile. >>



Uh-oh!!

There's a reference catalog for your collection.

syraq

Here's another highlight:




Lot #2149
1 Drachma 1915, Pattern - essai, Copper-nickel, matt finish proofin FDC. Extremely rare, 9 - 11 pieces are known. Engraver: K.Demetriades, Paris mint (E32).
Notes: essay or proof
Symbols: E
Opening Bid: 15000


King Constantine I, George's I's eldest son, wielded more power than any other 20th century Greek monarch. He ascended the throne on a wave of popularity earned by his successful commanding of the Greek army during the Balkan Wars. Even in the next years when his views ran counter to those of many Greeks and he ignored parliament, he retained many supporters. Due to the outbreak of WW1, no currency coins bearing his portrait were ever minted.

MadMuffin

Very beautiful coins. Would fit nicely in to my collection.

Marcel

Philip

Good luck with your bidding targets Dimitri.

And don't forget to share your acquisitions here afterwards.

Bruce

Good luck. No bidding by me, not much of a coin budget lately.

syraq

Here are my acquisitions:

a humble 1878 2 lepta, BU aFL, that completes my mint state set of this date (much more red than shown)







and a 1930 20 drs




both went multiple times their Krause value, but what the heck, we only live once. From the rare coins shown above, only three lots were sold. This is due to a lack of interest from potential buyers, but also (IMHO) to the extremely high opening bids.

oldshep

1930 20 drs You did well!!!
Shep

spoon

Awesome coins!! Wow, I bet they had to bring in the mops at that auction.. all those people drooling


There's a really awesome Greek coin that I just discovered on ebay, for now it'll have to remain a secret, but once the auction is over, one way or the other (hopefully in my favor!), I'll post a pic. It's a really awsome design that I'm ashamed to say I didn't know about until recently!

Awesome! (just coz I don't think I've said it enough in this thread )

cosmicdebris

Cool stuff!

Askari

Nice catch, Dimitri!!

I didn't know the Swedish engraver Leo Holmgren did work out of the Paris Mint. I thought he did it all out of the Swedish Mint. Learn something new all the time!

syraq

Thanks for the nice comments guys.


Mark, your knowledge never ceases to amaze me. Here's what was written in the printed catalogue regarding these 1000 drs pieces:

" This coin, as well as the one mentioned above (lot 2170) ,originates from the estate of Swedish sculptor and engraver Leo Holmgren, as testified in a letter by the coin dealer Ulf Nordlind who took care of the estate of the engraver. Leo Holmgren (1904-1989) was between 1944 and 1974 ,chief engraver and art director of the Swedish mint. He was however, half Swede and half Frenchman,born in France by a French mother and a Swedish father.He lived in France up to 1914 and he attended the first grades of school at a french school. He kept visiting France very often thereafter and he undertook several free lance commissions at the Paris Mint (Monnaie De Paris). He first worked at the Paris Mint for a whole year in 1927, while being already a student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm.

Thus, it is reasonable to assign these coins to the Paris mint, where later the first postwar coins of Greece were also struck in 1954.The period of the creation of this pattern is obviously the era of persistent postwar inflation in Greece 1946-1953. More specifically, it is probable that these coins were struck in the years 1946-1947..."

newsman

Beautiful coins, Dimitri, especially that 1930 20 drachmai. Are those rare?

daniilf

Which auction house had those lots?

syraq

Chuck, they're rare if the coin is a true unc. This coin has zero tolerance on wear, due to the high relief of the cheek. This is one of the closest to unc that I've come across. much more pleasing than its scan.



danilf, the auction took place in Athens ,Greece: link. Welcome to the forum.

syraq

sorry, double post


which I might as well use to post a few more coins from this auction for your viewing pleasure


Governor I.Kapodistrias (1827-1831)








King Otto (1832-1862)










King George I (1863-1913)








King Constantine I (1913-1917 and 1920-1922)





Republic 1924-1935





Crete, (prince) George High Commissioner,unification with Greece in 1908



Ionian islands - unification with Greece in 1862

Philip

Nice buys, thanks for sharing... And I thought the 1930 set would be easy

Also, thank you for finally showing a Cretan 5 Drachmai that is in decent shape. I just don't understand why most of the issues come out heavily worn (my 5 Lepta looks exactly like the worn specimen listed in Krause, but I am certain it is not that specimen). As far as I know they did circulate until the end of World War I, but this isn't that long a period

syraq

Good question , I thought about this myself a few times. The most possible answer that I came up with, is that the Cretan silver coins were minted according to the Latin Union standards, which, besides the weight , diameter and silver fineness , determined the mintage according to the population of the island. Therefore a very small mintage. When Crete was united with Greece, the state's finances were in a terrible shape, the drachma had lost its 1:1 ratio with the French franc and was struggling to regain it. This happened in 1909, but it was decided that no more crown sized 5 drachmai would be minted again. Considering that the last such Greek 5 drs was minted in 1876, it's highly possible that the legal tender Cretan fivers filled this hole, but they were not enough to cover the needs of the entire Greek population, which resulted in these heavily circulated grades . Just a guess of course.

1jester

Awesome coins, Dimitri! Thanks for sharing.

Askari

<< <i>Mark, your knowledge never ceases to amaze me. >>

Aw-w-w, gee ... shucks, I just get around ... pick up a little knowldge here, glean a little there....

Your theory about the Cretan 5 Dr sounds quite reasonable to me! It's just amazing the kind of lore one can discover collecting world coins!!!

BTW, the design on that 5 Lepta of Kapodistrias is pretty neat!

syraq

Well, after all you are a sorceror, so you're supposed to know everything.




BTW, the design on that 5 Lepta of Kapodistrias is pretty neat!



The coins from this early period of Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias are quite crude and extremely interesting. There aren't that many types, about a dozen in total, including the silver phoenix. Most serious Greek collectors end up collecting different varieties of these coins, a seemingly endless task that they carry on with love until the rest of their collecting days.

python

I like your 20 drs.

MacCrimmon

That Otto 1 drachmai makes my heart sing...

I love the patination, and, it has that corwn and shield reverse.

spoon

Wow! How old is the holder for that essai with the French writing on it?!?

Dimitri, this is the coin I mentioned earlier.. I won it! (probably overpaid, but so what) The sad part is, I don't know much about it. I know roughly the significance of 1863 but can you fill me in on the rest?

(Again, I apologize for hijacking a thread! But I figure this one kind of fits since it commemorates the history we're talking about )


(ebay pic)

syraq

Eric, this is the 1963 commemorative that celebrates 100 years of the Royal family , the one originating from Denmark, that replaced the Bavarian ruler in 1863. From top right clockwise, in a reverse chronological order, Paul, George II, Alexander, Constantine I, and the founder, George I. It proved to be so popular that it was finally released to circulation. However, being among the last silver legal tender coins ever to be minted, it was heavily hoarded, hence its low price in unc.On the reverse the map of Greece. Between 1953 and 1973, 30 drachmai were equal to one USD.



<< <i>That Otto 1 drachmai makes my heart sing...

I love the patination, and, it has that corwn and shield reverse. >>




Mac,you should have seen it in hand. It was among the finest I've ever seen. Not even 25% of the colours are represented in this scan,both in quantity and quality. It's also off center and a bad strike, some beads are completely flat, although there's not a single sign of wear. Unsold due to its 1700 euros (+17%) starting price.