A phoenix rising from the flames and the legend «ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ», «Hellenic Republic»: this 10 lepta was struck after the Colonels’ regime abolished the monarchy in June 1973.

The same year also saw a royal version (KM#102), with the legend «ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ», the coup date «21 ΑΠΡΙΛΙΟΥ 1967» and a soldier standing before the phoenix. On the republican coin the soldier is gone, a nod to the «liberalisation» then announced by Georgios Papadopoulos.

The other side stayed the same: a trident between two dolphins and the value «ΛΕΠΤΑ 10 ΛΕΠΤΑ». Together, KM#102 and KM#103 show a change of regime on the small change of a single year, a particularly clear subject for a collection of modern Greek history.

VF grade: noticeable wear on the raised parts of the relief, with the main details and legends still clear.

If you collect coins by country or by theme, take a look at the VPcoins catalogue: it is a convenient place to find the neighbouring pieces of a series.