| Description : The Ionian Islands, after six centuries under the rule of the
Republic of Venice, formed the Republic of the Seven Islands in 1800 under Ottoman sovereignty. In 1803, Greek became the
official language instead of Italian. The British protectorate of the United States of the Ionian Islands, established in
1815, became the administrative region of the Ionian Islands in 1864 and was united with the Greek state, which had been
independent since 1830. According to the coin designer Maria Andonatou, whose signet is an "M" in the lower
left‐hand circle, the seven‐pointed star symbolises the "Ionian dimension"
(Ιονια Διασταση) of the seven islands
(Επτανησα/Eptanisa), which produced and inspired important musicians, poets,
painters and politicians. In clockwise direction, starting at the top, the symbols show Corfu:
"Απηδαλος
Ναυς" (ancient Greek: apēdalos naus), a monere, an ancient rowing ship with a square sail,
mythical, thought‐directed rudderless ship of the Phaiaken from Scheria, to which the Corfiotes trace back (in the
coat of arms of Corfu, however, they are depicted as normal moneres) — Zakynthos: tribrach according to an
ancient coin of Acarnania, symbol of Apollo, as a reference to the cult of Apollo which is widespread here —
Ithaca: mythical home of Odysseus, depicted with a felt hat Pilos — Paxos: trident of Poseidon, with
which, according to myth, Paxos separated Paxos from Corfu to be undisturbed with his beloved Amphitrite —
Kythira: Aphrodite, according to the myth, rose from the sea there, depicted on a scallop — Lefkada:
"Απολλωνια Αρπα" (Apollo's lyre) as a symbol of the
great musical traditions of the island — Kefalonia: Kephalos, son of Hermes, mythical figure and eponym of the
island. The motif on the coin is framed by an antique meandering ornament known as a running dog, which is reminiscent
of rolling waves. At the centre is "150 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΑΠΟ
ΤΗΝ ΕΝΩΣΗ ΤΩΝ ΕΠΤΑΝΗΣΩΝ ΜΕ
ΤΗΝ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ 1864‐2014" (150 years of union of the Seven
Islands with Greece 1864‐2014) and "ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ
ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ" (Hellenic Republic). Underneath is a palmette the mint mark
of the Greek mint Νομισματοκοπειο /
Nomismatokopeio (Bank of Greece ‐ Mint) in Halandri. |
