Greek 1 Lepton

The Greek 1 Lepton coin, minted from 1833 to 1836, was struck on recycled copper planchets, often sourced from melted foreign coins like Spanish reales, to stretch Greece's limited resources under King Otto.

This made it a practical necessity for a cash-strapped new state. The obverse featured a phoenix, emblematic of national rebirth, while the reverse bore the denomination and date. Mintage figures vary by year, but records for 1834 were likely incomplete due to administrative chaos.

We know these coins were produced in Munich, as Otto relied on Bavarian expertise. They circulated widely in daily transactions, though their small size meant they were easily misplaced. If you handle one today, remember: it's not the coin that's rare, it's the patience required to spot it in a collection.

Details like exact alloy composition remain uncertain, as assays from the era are scarce.