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CC 350 2019
2 euro coin
BU Main coin Bank issue
2 Euro BU
Greece · 150th anniversary of the death of Andreas Kalvos
Mintage748,500
Issue date11 Jul 2019
Edge letteringΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ + ★
Market price€4.50
Issue occasion
The coin commemorates the 150th anniversary of the death of the poet Andreas Kalvos (1792–1869), who combined neoclassical education with the ideals of Romanticism and elements of Ancient and Modern Greek. The design shows a portrait of the poet, who was born on Zante, surrounded by his name and dates of life, as well as the inscription “ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ”. A palmette as the mint mark and the monogram of the coin designer George Stamatopoulos are also shown.
The design
Andreas Kalvos (1792–1869), who was born in Zante, is one of the most important poets of modern Greece. In his works, he combined a solid neoclassical education with the high ideals of Romanticism, as well as linguistic elements of both Ancient and Modern Greek; his poetry gave expression both to the revolutionary ideals of his time and to his personal visions.
The national side of the coin features a portrait of Andreas Kalvos. The inscription “ΑΝΔΤΡΕΑΣ ΚΑΛΒΟΣ 1792–1869” is displayed along the inner rim in the upper left; to its right are the year of issue and, above it, a palmette, the mint mark of the Greek mint. The inscription “ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ” appears along the inner rim in the lower right. The monogram of the coin designer, George Stamatopoulos, is also visible in the lower right.
The outer ring of the coin depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
The national side of the coin features a portrait of Andreas Kalvos. The inscription “ΑΝΔΤΡΕΑΣ ΚΑΛΒΟΣ 1792–1869” is displayed along the inner rim in the upper left; to its right are the year of issue and, above it, a palmette, the mint mark of the Greek mint. The inscription “ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ” appears along the inner rim in the lower right. The monogram of the coin designer, George Stamatopoulos, is also visible in the lower right.
The outer ring of the coin depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
Background on the topic
Kalvos’ literary work is closely connected with the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire (Osmanisches Reich). The uprising, which began in 1821, led to the establishment of an independent Greek state after years of fighting. In many of his odes, Kalvos addressed freedom, political self-determination, willingness to make sacrifices and republican virtue. He drew on both current events of the uprising and motifs from ancient Greece.
His twenty Greek-language odes were published in two collections: in 1824 in Geneva (Genf) and in 1826 in Paris. The publication in Western European cities took place at a time when the Greek uprising was attracting considerable attention outside the country. The philhellenic movement supported the struggle for independence politically, through publications and, in some cases, militarily. Kalvos’ poems were therefore addressed not only to a Greek audience but also formed part of this European debate.
Kalvos spent a large part of his life outside Greece. In Italy, he came into contact with the writer Ugo Foscolo, who was also from Zante, and worked for a time as his secretary. Later, he lived in Switzerland, France and England, among other places. On Corfu (Korfu), he taught at the Ionian Academy (Ionische Akademie). At that time, the Ionian Islands (Ionische Inseln) formed a British protectorate and were not united with the Kingdom of Greece (Königreich Griechenland) until 1864.
After the two collections of poems, Kalvos published no further poetry in Greek. His work initially received only limited attention. Towards the end of the 19th century, it was brought back into the Greek literary debate by the poet and literary critic Kostis Palamas. Since then, along with other authors of the period of independence, Kalvos has formed part of the literary canon of modern Greece. The coin issue therefore commemorates not only a biographical anniversary but also the connection between the founding of the Greek state, European philhellenism and modern Greek literature.
His twenty Greek-language odes were published in two collections: in 1824 in Geneva (Genf) and in 1826 in Paris. The publication in Western European cities took place at a time when the Greek uprising was attracting considerable attention outside the country. The philhellenic movement supported the struggle for independence politically, through publications and, in some cases, militarily. Kalvos’ poems were therefore addressed not only to a Greek audience but also formed part of this European debate.
Kalvos spent a large part of his life outside Greece. In Italy, he came into contact with the writer Ugo Foscolo, who was also from Zante, and worked for a time as his secretary. Later, he lived in Switzerland, France and England, among other places. On Corfu (Korfu), he taught at the Ionian Academy (Ionische Akademie). At that time, the Ionian Islands (Ionische Inseln) formed a British protectorate and were not united with the Kingdom of Greece (Königreich Griechenland) until 1864.
After the two collections of poems, Kalvos published no further poetry in Greek. His work initially received only limited attention. Towards the end of the 19th century, it was brought back into the Greek literary debate by the poet and literary critic Kostis Palamas. Since then, along with other authors of the period of independence, Kalvos has formed part of the literary canon of modern Greece. The coin issue therefore commemorates not only a biographical anniversary but also the connection between the founding of the Greek state, European philhellenism and modern Greek literature.
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