This is a trip down memory lane as I am going through my collection of old drachma coins. After euro's advent, all drachmas, Greece's national currency, were returned to the banks and exchanged for euros. Of course some of us kept some coins and banknotes as mementos of an era that came to an end in 2002.
Our first stop is the 100 drachma coin with the glorious Vergina Sun obverse and mighty Alexander the Great reverse.
The lettering
Obverse:
ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ = HELLENIC REPUBLIC
1992 ΒΕΡΓΙΝΑ = 1992 VERGINA
100
ΔΡΑΧΜΕΣ = DRACHMAS
Reverse:
ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ = ALEXANDER THE GREAT
Β.Σ. = V.S.
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΩΝ = KING OF THE MACEDONS
The coin
It belongs to the Third Modern Drachma coins (coins that were minted after 1954 with the re-evaluation of drachma as a measure to fight inflation) and circulated for a decade (1990-2000). Made of an aluminium-bronze alloy, this round coin weighs 10 gr, it has a diameter of 29.3 mm and its thickness is 2.22 mm. It was a very common coin back in the days and it does not have any special collecting value, just sentimental...
If you want more information, you can check it on Numista here: 100 Drachmes
What would you be able to buy with this today?
Probably some chewing gum or a cheap 250 ml carton of juice or a small bun or even a cheap chocolate wafer since those 100 drachmas were equal to around 0.29 €.