I’d guess that it is an exact replica of a different coin. If you look for pictures of Athenian owl tetradrachms (the ancient coin is a tetradrachm, but different times and places within the ancient Greek world had different designs) then you’ll see that there are lots of little variations. I haven’t found one that matches the euro design exactly, but you’ll get the idea
Counterfeiting was very common back then too, and as long as the precious metal ratio was the same, it didn’t matter. Whole cities did their own counterfeiting in times of chaos and depression.
I would think so too, but I don’t think this image is actually from the mint. At least, I can’t find it on the Bank of Greece’s website. Their euro banknotes & coins page actually doesn’t show the national side of the coins at all, only the common side
Right? Like why not make it exact?
I’d guess that it is an exact replica of a different coin. If you look for pictures of Athenian owl tetradrachms (the ancient coin is a tetradrachm, but different times and places within the ancient Greek world had different designs) then you’ll see that there are lots of little variations. I haven’t found one that matches the euro design exactly, but you’ll get the idea
Counterfeiting was very common back then too, and as long as the precious metal ratio was the same, it didn’t matter. Whole cities did their own counterfeiting in times of chaos and depression.
That would make a lot of sense, but you’d think the mint would publish images of the original.
I would think so too, but I don’t think this image is actually from the mint. At least, I can’t find it on the Bank of Greece’s website. Their euro banknotes & coins page actually doesn’t show the national side of the coins at all, only the common side