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20 ECU Alexander the Great
| Issuer | Greece |
|---|---|
| Year | 1994 |
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| Currency | ECU (1979-1999) |
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| Obverse description | Central field depicts a ancient Greek trireme (galley) in profile sailing to the right, rendered in relief with detailed oars and rigging. Below the galley, the Greek national flag is displayed prominently within the coin's central area. The design is encircled by a ring of twelve stars, symbolic of the European Community. The bilingual legend 'ΕΛΛΑΣ / HELLAS' arcs across the upper portion, while '• ΕΥΡΩΠΗ • 20 ECU • EUROPA •' runs along the lower periphery. |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | ΕΛΛΑΣ HELLAS • ΕΥΡΩΠΗ • 20 ECU • EUROPA • |
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| Additional information |
Greece issued this ECU piece as part of a broader European enthusiasm for the denomination in the early 1990s, when non-eurozone and aspirant member states alike produced ECU-denominated coins primarily for the collector market — they held no legal tender status for everyday transactions. The timing was deliberate: Greece was making its case for deeper EU integration, and invoking Alexander was a pointed response to the ongoing dispute with the newly independent Republic of Macedonia over the use of the name and associated historical symbols.
That dispute had boiled over in 1992–1993, prompting Greek trade embargoes and sustained diplomatic pressure across European institutions.