Greece 1845 drachma

Stack's Bowers 2020 ANA sale, lot 21330

This specimen was lot 21330 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Las Vegas, August 2020), where it sold for $3,120. The catalog description^[1] noted, "GREECE. Drachma, 1845. Athens Mint. Othon. NGC FINE-12. A well worn and wholesome example of this VERY RARE issue exhibiting smooth surfaces displaying light grey tone with areas of richer coloration near the rims and amongst the devices." This type is listed for 1832-34 and 1845-47 and, like most of the issues of nineteenth century Greece, is scarce. Drachmai struck 1868 and later were minted to the standard of a French silver franc. Greece, poor, backward, corrupt and riven by feuds, could ill afford a substantial silver coinage. King Otto fell foul of the local politicians and was forced to abdicate in 1863.

Recorded mintage: unknown but a rare date.

Specification: 4.48 g, 0.900 fine silver.

Catalog reference: KM-15; Geo-74.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The August 2020 ANA Auction: World Coins, featuring the Duke of Lansing Collection, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.

Link to:

• 1833-A drachma
• 1851 drachma
• Coins and currency dated 1845