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Gold
200 euro Maria Callas 2023 Proof
Greek collectible gold proof coin with a face value of 200 euros, for the 100 years from the birth of Maria Callas, maximum number of 750 pieces, Bank of Greece mint, issue in 2023. The photo is indicative, the coin you will receive is in the original box along with the certificate of authenticity.
Maria Callas (born Maria Kalogeropoulos), the legendary soprano of the 20th century, was born in New York to Greek immigrant parents on 2 December 1923. Encouraged by her mother, she began studying opera singing at an early age, and in 1937 moved back with her family to Greece. There, she completed her musical education and, despite her very young years, was soon performing lead roles at the Greek National Opera from 1940 to 1944. Her return to the United States in 1945 marked the launch of her international career. In the 1950s, she triumphed at Milan’s La Scala and other prestigious opera houses around the world, with her electrifying interpretations of the most challenging soprano roles, mainly in works by Verdi, Donizetti, Bellini and Puccini. Her art combined dramatic insight and skillful mastery of her rich timbre. After a rapid vocal decline in the 1960s prematurely ended her stage career, she turned to recitals and master classes. Maria Callas died in Paris on 16 September 1977.
| Issuer | Greece  |
|---|---|
| Period | Third Hellenic Republic (1974-date) |
| Type | Non-circulating coins |
| Year | 2023 |
| Value | 200 Euros (200 EUR) |
| Currency | Euro (2002-date) |
| Composition | Gold (.917) |
| Weight | 7.98 g |
| Diameter | 22.1 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
50 euro Delos 2023 Proof
Greek collectible gold proof coin with a face value of 50 euros, for the cultural heritage of Delos, maximum number of 1,500 pieces, Bank of Greece mint, issue in 2023.
Delos is a small island of the Cyclades, so named because of the circle (cyclos) they form around it. Sacred in antiquity for being the legendary birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, Delos was so revered that it was spared even by the invading Persians. In the 5th century BC, the island became the seat of the First Athenian League and of its common treasury, until Pericles moved it to Athens. The Athenians reorganised the Delia festival in honour of Apollo and made Delos a leading panhellenic sanctuary. Declared a free port by the Romans, Delos would become a major trading hub until its sack by Mithridates, king of Pontus, from which it never recovered. Systematic excavations by the École française d’Athènes began in 1873. Delos is an archaeological site in its entirety, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990. With its famous Terrace of the Lions and the ruins of the ancient city scattered across the serene landscape, unspoilt by modern civilisation to this day, Delos exudes an air of sacredness and offers visitors a unique experience, totally different from the bustle of neighbouring Mykonos.
| Issuer | Greece |
|---|---|
| Issuing bank | Bank of Greece (Τράπεζα της Ελλάδος) |
| Period | Third Hellenic Republic (1974-date) |
| Type | Non-circulating coins |
| Year | 2023 |
| Value | 50 Euros (50 EUR) |
| Currency | Euro (2002-date) |
| Composition | Gold (.999) |
| Weight | 1 g |
| Diameter | 14 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |