The Greek one-euro coin can rightly claim that it has roots planted deep in history with a story longer than two millennia.
Approximately 2,500 years ago, in ancient Athens, the owl captivated the Athenians with its beauty, becoming a significant national symbol defining the city. But it would survive for millennia, eventually becoming part of Europe’s official currency system.
The long story of the Greek one-euro coin began in ancient Athens
The Athenian silver tetradrachm became the most influential currency of the Ancient Greek world around 425-400 BC. This coin featured a majestic bird, the owl of wisdom, representing Athena, the city’s patron goddess, and the Ancient Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare.
This coin was widely circulated, so it became widely known by its nickname, the ”Glaux,” which means owl in Greek.
As Athens gained military and financial strength, the Glaux became one of the most widely recognized currencies in the ancient world. One could argue that the Athenian tetradrachm coin was to the ancient world what the US dollar is today.
The Athenian tetradrachm’s design was remarkably sophisticated for its time. We can see Athena’s helmeted head on one side, while the reverse side displays her sacred companion – an owl.
The Athenians’ beloved bird proudly stands with an olive sprig and a small crescent moon.
We can see the inscription “ΑΘΕ,” which was short for Athens, next to the owl. These three Greek letters made the coin an official Athenian currency.
These “owls,” as they became known, were so successful as a currency that their design remained virtually unchanged for centuries, dominating the Ancient Greek world and beyond.
This ancient Greek coin depicts the symbol of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. The owl is shown beside the goddess’s sacred olive tree, and these designs remained unchanged on Athenian coinage for over 300 years. The owl is even used on Greek euro coins today! #Superbowl 🦉🏈 pic.twitter.com/MNe4akwYwl
— British Museum (@britishmuseum) February 4, 2018
How an Ancient Greek coin became part of the euro family
Fast forward 2,400 years to 2002. When Greece joined the Eurozone along with 11 other EU member states, the Athenian tetradrachm would adorn the national side of the one euro coin.
The euro coins all share a common front side across the Eurozone, while the back side is specific to the member state of origin. They circulate freely throughout the Union.
In a beautiful tribute to their numismatic heritage, Greek officials chose to adorn their €1 coin with the same iconic owl motif from the ancient tetradrachm, connecting Ancient Greece with the reality of European integration.
The decision was not merely aesthetic; instead, Greece sought to emphasize the deep connections between its historical legacy and the fundamental elements of modern European identity.
The characteristics of the Greek one-euro coin
The Greek one-euro coin cleverly incorporates elements from its ancient Athenian tetradrachm. The owl holds a distinguished posture alongside the olive branch, enclosed within the irregular border reminiscent of an ancient coin.
The inscription now reads “1 ΕΥΡΩ” (1 EURO) instead of “ΑΘΕ,” bridging ancient and modern Greece together in a subtle yet powerfully symbolic way.
So, every time someone holds a humble Greek one-euro coin, they hold a symbol of Athenian commercial and cultural dominance that continues to proudly represent Greece in Europe’s modern monetary system.