Catalog
5 Lepta
| Issuer | Kingdom of Greece |
|---|---|
| Year | 1833-1842 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Milled |
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| Obverse description | Central device consists of the quartered royal arms of Greece displayed on a heraldic shield, featuring a bold Greek cross dividing the field into four quarters with horizontal line engraving in the first and fourth quarters. The shield is surmounted by a elaborate royal crown decorated with pearls and a cross at its apex. The circular legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ (Kingdom of Greece) runs along the periphery, reading from lower left to lower right, with the shield and crown centrally positioned in the field. |
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| Reverse description | The denomination and date are displayed within a wreath of laurel branches tied at the base with a crossed ribbon and joined at the top by an interlaced knot. The numeral '5' appears in the upper portion of the central field, followed below by the Greek legend ΛΕΠΤΑ in a single line, and the four-digit date in the lower portion of the field. The wreath sprays extend symmetrically on either side, rendered in finely detailed relief. |
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| Additional information |
Greece's first copper coinage as an independent kingdom was struck at the Paris and Munich mints, the newly installed Bavarian king Otto having brought German administrative sensibilities — and German mint relationships — with him when he took the throne in 1832. The Paris issues carry a torch mintmark; Munich pieces bear none, a distinction that matters considerably to specialists working through the series.
Production ran intermittently across the stated range, with Munich handling the bulk of early striking before Paris took a larger share. Die alignment inconsistencies are well-documented across both facilities for this type.