2011 Acropolis Coin

The 2011 Acropolis Coin from Greece depicts the Parthenon with scaffolding, a nod to the restoration work underway that year.

This silver piece, part of a series issued by the Greek mint, was meant to fund those efforts. It weighs about 28.28 grams and measures 38.61 millimeters across, standard for commemorative euros. The obverse shows a worker's tools alongside ancient columns, blending past and present in a way that's more practical than poetic.

We don't know the exact mintage figures; records from that era are spotty. What I can say is that these coins circulated widely in Europe, often turning up in change purses rather than collections.

If you're handling one, note the edge lettering—it's in Greek script, which trips up beginners every time.