Greece 2015 Aristophanes 10 Euro Silver Proof Coin

Description:

The Greek 2015 Aristophanes 10-euro silver proof coin is part of the Greek Culture series of 10-euro denomination coins minted by the Bank of Greece.

Obverse:

The obverse, designed by Bank of Greece engraver Georgios “George” Stamatopolous, features a profile of the Ancient Greek comic playwright Aristophanes, often called the Father of Comedy. A little more than a third of his plays survive today, including The Frogs, The Acharnians, and–perhaps most famously–Lysistrata, in which the women of Greece withhold sex from their husbands in an attempt to end the Peloponnesian War.

Conjoined with and immediately to the right of Aristophanes is a stylized mask of comedy; to the right of the mask is a stylized representation of the wind. Stamatopolous’ monogram sits beside the mask’s chin. Above the central motif is the year 2015, and below it is the inscription (in Greek) ARISTOPHANES 445-385 B.C.

A meander or key pattern encircles the design.

Reverse:

The reverse, also designed by Stamatopolous, features the stylized masks of tragedy and comedy sitting face to face, with both a small fleur de lys and the number 10 between them. Beneath the masks and the number 10 is the word EURO (in Greek). Above the masks is the Coat of arms of Greece: A (white) cross argent on a (blue) escutcheon surrounded by laurel leaves. Around the Coat of arms is the inscription (in Greek) HELLENIKA DEMOKRATIA, or “Greek Republic”.

In the upper left corner, above the mask of tragedy, is a stylized representation of what appears to be a cloud. Above the comedic mask is a stylized representation of the wind similar to that seen on the obverse. The same meander or key pattern encircles the reverse design as well.

Coin Specifications:

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