1960 Greece 1 Drachma

The 1960 1 Drachma coin prominently features a phoenix on its obverse, a nod to ancient Greek mythology that aligned with Greece's own resurgence after World War II.

That phoenix, wings spread, was designed by noted engraver G. I. Kotsios and struck on aluminum planchets, making the coin lightweight and practical for everyday use. It's a simple piece, with the reverse showing the denomination and the year.

This coin entered circulation as part of Greece's 1954 decimal reform, which finally standardized the drachma system after years of inflation and instability. Mintage figures for 1960 are murky; records from that era weren't always reliable.

I've handled dozens of these over the years, and let me tell you, that phoenix looks just as tired as I feel some days.