Greek 1990 20 Drachmai

The 1990 20 Drachmai coin immortalizes Ioannis Kapodistrias, Greece's first head of state, on its obverse—a man whose reforms and untimely death in 1831 shaped the nation's early struggles.

Struck in Athens from cupro-nickel, this circulation piece also bears the Greek coat of arms on the reverse, a design that nods to the country's heraldic traditions without much fanfare. It's one of the later drachma issues, minted just over a decade before the euro arrived.

Mintage figures? They’re not well-documented in my records, possibly lost in some bureaucratic shuffle. I've handled hundreds of these over the years, and they're common in circulated grades, though uncirculated ones can surprise you.

Every so often, someone claims these coins are laced with ancient secrets. They aren't.