Greek 1834 5 Lepta

The 1834 5 Lepta was struck in Munich, Germany, because the fledgling Greek state lacked its own mint and had to outsource to Bavaria, Otto's homeland.

That decision reflected the practicalities of nation-building, with copper planchets punched out for a coin weighing around 8 grams and measuring 23 millimeters across. Otto's portrait dominated the obverse, a young king staring ahead with the confidence of inexperience, while the reverse featured a simple wreath and denomination.

Records of how many were produced are spotty; most documents from that era went up in smoke during later upheavals.

What surprises me, after handling dozens of these, is how the patina varies wildly depending on burial conditions, turning some into accidental art pieces.

Collectors might quibble over grades, but that's their affair.