Greece 20 Drachmai 1973

History

Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com

Description

The Greek military junta of 1967–1974, commonly known as the Regime of the Colonels, or in Greece simply The Junta, The Dictatorship and The Seven Years, was a series of far-right military juntas that ruled Greece following the 1967 Greek coup d'état led by a group of colonels on 21 April 1967. The dictatorship ended on 24 July 1974 under the pressure of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The fall of the junta was followed by the Metapolitefsi, and the establishment of the Third Hellenic Republic.

Obverse	Legendary creature (dragon, unicorn etc.) Phoenix Depicts the emblem of the Junta (the Phoenix rising from its flames) surrounded by the country name (Hellenic Republic). The engraver's name and date below. The phoenix is a long-lived bird associated with Greek mythology (with analogs in many cultures) that cyclically regenerates or is otherwise born again. Associated with the sun, a phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor. Engraver: I. Stinis ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ Ι.ΣΤΙΝ 1973
Reverse	Deity (god, goddess etc.) Athena Military Helmet The portrait in the left profile of the goddess Athena is accompanied by facial value. The engraver's name below. Athena is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, mathematics, strength, war strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill in ancient Greek religion and mythology. Engraver: N. Perantinos 20 ΔΡΧ
Edge	Inscribed (lettered) Hellenic Republic ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ