Greece

2018

Commemorative coin

70 years since the union of the Dodecanese with Greece

Official Journal of the European Union

The design features in the central part a rose, the canting badge of Rhodes, inspired from a coin minted by the ancient city of Rhodes, one of the most characteristic coins of the Dodecanese, with stylised waves fanning out from the centre. Inscribed along the inner edge is the wording ‘1948-2018 THE UNION OF THE DODECANESE WITH GREECE’ and ‘HELLENIC REPUBLIC’ (in Greek). Also visible at left is a palmette (the mintmark of the Greek mint) and, at right, the monogram of the artist (George Stamatopoulos). The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

After about 400 years as part of the Ottoman Empire (1523-1912), the Dodecanese became the "Italian Aegean Islands" in 1912-1943. After German occupation (1943-1945) it became a British protectorate. On September 15, 1947, the cession of the Dodecanese agreed with Italy at the Paris Peace Conference in 1946 came into effect and on March 7, 1948, the formal unification with Greece was accomplished with the creation of the Dodecanese prefecture. The coin depicts a rose as a symbol of the main island of the Dodecanese, Rhodes, surrounded by concentric stylised waves. Coins with the rose motif have been minted in Rhodes since ancient times.

Edge lettering

Designer