Greece 2 Euro 2019 — 150th Anniversary of the Death of Andreas Kalvos

This commemorative 2 euro coin was issued in 2019 to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Andreas Kalvos, one of the most celebrated Greek poets of the modern era. The coin was struck at the National Mint of the Bank of Greece in Athens. The national side was designed by engraver Georgios Stamatopoulos.

The national side features a portrait of Andreas Kalvos. Along the left arc is the inscription "ΑΝΔΡΕΑΣ ΚΑΛΒΟΣ 1792–1869", and along the right arc — "ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ" ("Hellenic Republic"). On the left are the mint mark in the form of a palmette and the year "2019", on the right — the engraver's monogram. The outer ring is adorned with the twelve stars of the European Union. The reverse carries the standard "2 EURO" design with a map of Europe. The edge is reeded with the incuse inscription "ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ *".

Andreas Kalvos (1792–1869) was born on the island of Zakynthos and is one of the most significant Greek poets of the modern era. Combining a deep neoclassical education with the lofty ideals of Romanticism, and an archaic register of Greek with the vernacular, he gave voice to both the revolutionary spirit of his time and his own personal vision. Kalvos spent most of his life in Italy and Switzerland, yet wrote of an exalted Greece; his earliest works were composed in Italian.