SILVER COIN – THE INTEGRATION OF CRETE

1913 – The integration of Crete

THE COIN DEPICTS ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS

Despite having participated in the Greek War of Independence in 1821, Crete remained under Ottoman rule. After a number of bloody uprisings (1841, 1858, 1866-69 and 1895-98), the island finally achieved autonomy in 1898 with Prince George of Greece as High Commissioner. The Cretans’ long-standing desire for union with Greece was ultimately fulfilled in 1913, after the Balkan Wars. The coin portrays Eleftherios Venizelos (1864-1936). After emerging onto Crete’s political stage with his participation in the Theriso uprising against the High Commissioner in 1905, Venizelos was invited by the leaders of the Goudi Revolt to assume the premiership of Greece in 1910. He was a great reformer, as well as the architect of Greece’s expansion through the Balkan Wars.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND OTHER INFORMATION

Denomination: €10

Diameter: 40 mm

Weight: 34.10 g

Edge: plain

Material: silver (Ag) 92.5%

Maximum issue: 4,000 pieces

Minting quality: proof

Coin designed by: George Stamatopoulos

The coins are made of silver with a content of 92.5%, the minting quality is proof and 4000 pieces of each coin have been issued. Each coin is also available individually in a wooden collector case with the corresponding certificate.