The euro (EUR or €) is the common currency for 12 member states of the European Union (the Eurozone), including Greece. The euro coins have two different sides; one common, European side showing the value of the coin and one national side featuring a design chosen by the EU member state where the coin was minted. Each member state has one or more designs unique to that country.
For images of the common side and a detailed description of the coins, see Euro coins.
Greek euro coins feature a unique design for every one of the eight coins. They were all designed by Georgios Stamatopoulos with the minor coins depicting Greek ships, the middle ones famous Greeks and the two large denominations examples of Greek history and mythology. All designs feature the 12 stars of the EU, the year of imprint and a tiny symbol of the Bank of Greece [1] (which looks somewhat irritatingly like a cannabis leaf, but isn't). Unique to the national side of Greek coins is that the value of the coin is expressed in the Greek alphabet. Also, the euro cent is called the lepton (λεπτον; plural lepta, λεπτα) in Greek, unlike other languages which borrowed the word cent.
In the 2 € Coin Edge the words Hellenic Republic in Greek and in Greek script can be found.
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