Greek 1997 100 Drachmai

This 1997 Greek 100 Drachmai coin was struck as a bimetallic piece, with a brass ring surrounding a cupronickel center, to commemorate the 2,500th anniversary of the ancient Olympic Games.

That design choice reflected Greece's effort to blend modern minting with classical heritage, featuring a discus thrower on the obverse and the Acropolis on the reverse. We know the coin was part of a series issued just before the euro's introduction, which makes it a minor footnote in currency transitions. Exact mintage figures are murky; official records from that era are incomplete.

The bimetallic structure was practical, reducing wear in circulation, though it didn't always prevent the odd ring separating from the center over time.

Some collectors debate whether these coins were overproduced, given their relative abundance today.