Crete 1901 2 drachmai
This specimen was lot 1816 in Sincona sale 47 (Zürich, May 2018), where it sold for 200 CHF (about US$240 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Kreta, Georg I. 1863-1913. 2 Drachmen 1901 A, Paris. Sehr schön. (Crete, George I, 1863-1913, two drachma of 1901, Paris mint. Very fine.)"
Around the turn of the century, the island of Crete was contended by Greece and Turkey. The overwhelmingly Greek population of the island favored union with Greece but the Powers, not wanting to partition Turkey too rapidly, forced the Greek king to accept Turkish suzerainty over his control. This unwieldy arrangement lasted until 1913, when Greece annexed the island. This two drachmai is scarce and expensive in XF or better.
Recorded mintage: 175,000.
Specification: 10 g, 0.835 fine silver, 27 mm diameter, this specimen 9.96 g.
Catalog reference: Divo 131. KM 8. Karamitsos C10.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Auction 47, World Coins and Medals, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2018.
Link to: