1 Phoenix silver coin
Dated 1828 (struck 1829) ・ silver ・ 19th century ・ Greece (Aegina Mint)
In 1828, the phoenix was introduced as the first national currency of Greece after its independence. Its name comes from the mythological phoenix, a symbol of rebirth during the War of Independence. Established by a decree of Kapodistrias, one phoenix was defined as 100 lepta, with a value equivalent to one-sixth of the Spanish silver dollar then in circulation. The coins were struck at the mint of Aegina, with dies engraved by the jeweller Chatzigrigoris Pyrovolistis. However, due to a shortage of silver, the mintage was limited to only 11,978 pieces, and Turkish and Spanish silver coins continued to dominate circulation. Although the name and symbol were born, the currency had yet to find its market.