Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2017, KM# 290, Greece, Archaeological Site of Philippi
  • 2 Euro 2017, KM# 290, Greece, Archaeological Site of Philippi
Description

Philippi was a city in eastern Macedonia, in the Edonis region. Its original name was Crenides after its establishment by Thasian colonists in 360/359 BC. The city was renamed by Philip II of Macedon in 356 BC and abandoned in the 14th century after the Ottoman conquest. The present municipality, Filippoi, is located near the ruins of the ancient city and is part of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace in Kavalla, Greece.

Obverse

Depicts the ruins of Basilica B with two inscriptions to the left ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF PHILIPPI and HELLENIC REPUBLIC 2017. The mintmark (stylized acanthus leaf, Athens) on the middle right, the monogram of the engraver on the lower left (ΣΤΑΜ, Georgios Stamatopoulos).

Basilica B is a three-aisled basilica dated to ca. 550 A.D. It has a narthex and annexes to the north and south (phiale, vestry). The almost square in plan, central aisle was covered with a vault supported by large pillars. A second vault roofed the Holy Bema. Its sculptural decoration is under the influence of Constantinople.

AΡXAIOΛOΓIKOΣ XΩΡOΣ ΦIΛΛIΠΩN
ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ
2017
ΣΤΑΜ

Reverse

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 2 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “2” located in an open field representing the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

12 stars are located on the right side of the outer ring, with six stars atop the map of Europe and six stars below it; six vertical stripes cut across the inner core of the coin, visually connecting the upper and lower star segments.

Luc Luycx, a designer at the Royal Belgian Mint, designed the Euro’s common reverse; his initials, LL, are seen on the right side of the design, just under the “O” in “EURO.”

2 EURO
LL

Edge

HELLENIC REPUBLIC in Greek

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ ★

2 Euro

Archaeological Site of Philippi

KM# 290
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Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Cupronickel
Center Nickel Brass
Weight 8.5 g
Diameter 25.75 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Bank of Greece

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