| Description : Manolis Andronikos (1919‐1992) was a Greek archaeologist
who discovered in 1977 in the historical centre of Macedonia the richly furnished sovereign tombs untouched by grave robbers
under a large tumulus ‐ a worldwide archaeological sensation. The excavation site near Vergina ‐ probably
identical with the ancient city of "Aigeai", until 410 BC capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia ‐ has been listed
as a UNESCO&dash:World Heritage Site since 1996. Two golden caskets with bones were found in a grave. The male bones in the
larger Larnax, which is decorated with a sun symbol known as the "Star of Vergina", were also wrapped in a purple cloak and
an oak leaf made of chased gold and an acorn crown were enclosed ‐ probably royal burial objects. Andronikos assumed
that it was the tomb of Philipp II (∼382‐336 BC), father of Alexander the Great ‐ but this
attribution is disputed. The coin, designed after a photograph, shows the archaeologist, his head resting on his right hand.
On the left is his name and dates of birth "ΜΑΝΛΗΣ
ΑΝΔΡΟΝΙΚΟΣ 1919‐1992" (Manolis Andronikos 1919‐1992),
a palmette the mint mark of the Greek mint
Νομισματοκοπειο / Nomismatokopeio
(Bank of Greece ‐ Mint) in Halandri together with the year "2019", on the right
"ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ
ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ" (Hellenic Republic) and the signet "ΣΤΑΜ"
of the coin designer Georgios Stamatopoulos. |
