Greek 5 Drachmai 1870

This 1870 5 Drachmai gold coin was struck in Paris, a necessity since Greece had no mint of its own and relied on French expertise to produce its currency.

Weighing about 5.8 grams of 90% gold, it features King George I's portrait on the obverse, a design that echoes the era's European royal styles but with a distinctly Greek flair in the lettering. The reverse shows the Greek coat of arms, complete with the phoenix rising from ashes, symbolizing the nation's rebirth after independence. Records from that period are spotty; we know the mintage was low, but exact figures burned up in an 1884 archive fire, so don't ask me for numbers.

Some folks still peddle the myth that these coins were hoarded for their gold value during economic troubles. They weren't; most circulated normally until wear set in. As for me, I've turned over dozens of these in my time, and they're solid pieces, no more mystical than your average gold sovereign.