2004 Greece 2 Euro Olympic Commemorative

The 2004 Greek 2 Euro coin was the first commemorative issue in the denomination for the Eurozone, marking the return of the Olympic Games to Athens after a century.

Designed by sculptor Konstantinos Katsarelis, it features a stylized ancient Greek athlete on the reverse, evoking the discus thrower from classical art, alongside the inscription "XXVIII Olympiad." The obverse carries the standard Euro design, but the edge bears the Greek coat of arms. Minted in Finland due to capacity constraints in Greek facilities, it used the typical bi-metallic composition of cupronickel and nickel brass.

Exact mintage figures are murky; official records suggest around 18 million pieces, but I've seen variations in reports, so take that with a grain of salt. As for myths, no, it won't make you run faster.