1973 10 Drachmai

The 1973 Greek 10 Drachmai coin was struck with a reverse design featuring a phoenix, symbolizing national rebirth during the junta's rule—a design that proved prescient when democracy returned the next year.

This aluminum-bronze piece was part of a transitional series, bridging older patterns and modern needs. The obverse showed the Greek coat of arms, while the edge bore a reeded pattern for security. Mintage figures are murky; official records from that era are incomplete, possibly due to administrative upheavals.

As for rarity, it's common in circulated grades but scarcer in pristine condition. I've seen plenty over the years, often tucked away in collections of modern Greek issues. That said, the phoenix motif always reminds me of how coins can outlast regimes—it's the numismatist's quiet revenge.