| Description : In 1896, at the first Olympic Games of modern times, a
marathon was held at the suggestion of the Philhellene Michael Bréal. At that time, silver medals were awarded to
the winners, and the winner of the marathon, Spyros Louis, also received a silver cup donated by Bréal, which
survived the turbulent 20th century unscathed in the family's possession and is now on display in the Acropolis Museum.
The 15 cm high goblet is decorated with birds, an insect and marsh plants such as the iris, which symbolizes
chivalry and was once native to the Marathon marshes, which were drained in the mid‐20th century. The inscription
reads: "Olympic Games ‐ 1896 ‐ Marathon trophy ‐ donated by Michael Bréal". The design of the coin
depicts the athlete, according to a contemporary photograph, dressed in the traditional costume of the Evzones and in front
of the Panathenian Stadium, which serves as the finishing line, a reconstruction of the stadium built around 330 BC
for the Panathenian Games. On the left is the state name "ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ
ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ" (Hellenic Republic) and on the right
"75 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΜΝΗΜΗΣ ΣΠΥΡΟΥ
ΛΟΥΗ" (75 years of commemoration of Spyros Louis). Above the cup is the year of issue "2015",
to the right of which is a palmette the mint mark of the Greek mint
Νομισματοκοπειο / Nomismatokopeio
(Bank of Greece ‐ Mint) in Halandri. At the lower edge of the coin's design is the signet "ΣΤΑΜ"
of designer Georgios Stamatopoulos. |
