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Crete - The Palace of Knossos
The most glorious monument of the Minoan civilisation, which is the subject of the first gold coin of the 2004 Olympic Games, is the palace of Knossos, the residence and headquarters of the king, his dignitaries/officials and the priesthood. Beyond the architectural value of the palace, it is also noteworthy for having preserved in its interior many magnificent wall paintings depicting various themes related to social life in the Minoan period.
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Olympia - The Krypte
The enchanting setting of the ancient Olympia was chosen by the ancient Greeks as the place where they could hold the
most glorious and renowned pan-Hellenic games in history, which eventually gave birth to the modern Olympic Games.
One of the monuments of Olympia, pictured on the second gold coin, is the Krypte, a long and narrow vaulted passage
through which the athletes and the jurors (Hellanodikai) entered the Stadium. Inside the passage, along the right wall,
was a long stone bench, upon which sat the contestants. The Krypte was originally open to the sky, and was most
probably only covered by a roof towards the end of the 2nd century, when it also acquired the name “krypte” meaning
“hidden”. Since this was the passage through which the participants entered the Stadium to begin the contests, it soon
acquired its symbolic importance, signifying the opening of the games.
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The Panathinaiko Stadium 1896
The Panathinaiko stadium, the subject of the 3rd gold coin, is the beautiful stadium of Athens, located on the Ardettos
hill. In 1896, when the first Olympic Games of the modern era were to be held, it was proposed to the Greek public
benefactor George Averof that he undertake the expenses for the restoration of the stadium and its fitting out with new
marble seats, a task which he willingly undertook. The architect Anastasios Metaxas was placed in charge of the works,
and the inauguration of the stadium was celebrated on March 25 1896, (Greece’s national day), together with the
opening of the first Olympic Games of many Balkan, pan-European, and other games. It now constitutes one of the sites
visited by a host of Greek and foreign visitors every day. Holding, as it does, this great historical importance and
symbolism, the Panathenaic Stadium deservedly constitutes an emblem of the revival of the modern Olympic Games.
Each pure .9999 fine gold proof coin is presented in an official plush case with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
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Zappeio – The Olympic Village of 1896
Zappeio is an Athenian mansion built at the expense of the Greek public benefactor Evangelos Zappas (1865-1899) to
serve as the venue for Greek artistic, agricultural and industrial fairs. Harilaos Trikoupis later (1887) decided to move
elsewhere the Protestant cemetery that was situated there and to create a garden around the building. The Zappeion,
designed by the architect Theophilos Hansen, was built between 1874 and 1888. It was originally given the name
“Olympia” and acquired its present name after the death of the two brothers Evangelos and Konstantinos Zappas,
whose busts – created by the well-known Greek sculptors I. Kossos and G. Vroutos respectively – stand at the entrance
of the building.
Zappeio, which is the subject of the fourth gold Olympic coin, is related to the first Olympic Games in Athens in 1896,
since at the time, the lack of a necessary infrastructure and facilities for the accommodation of participants, required the
use of the mansion as an “Olympic village” for the Games, that is in order to house the participating athletes and also to
hold certain games such as fencing.
Each release five gold coin is struck from .9999 fine gold to the highest proof standards and presented in an official plush case with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
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The Acropolis of Athens
The history of Acropolis and of the sacred rock bearing the Parthenon and the other monuments has
its origins far back in time. It thus represents all the periods of the city that lies at its feet, since all the historical events of Athens
unfolded and centred around this low rock. The stones, the columns of the temple and the monuments that stand upon the
Acropolis and around it are directly linked to the legends and traditions of the city itself and of Greece generally, although they
naturally bear a particular relevance to the unsurpassable Classical period.
To speak of the importance of the sacred rock and of the Acropolis of Athens in relation to the 2004 Olympic Games is of
course redundant. However, it may be worth mentioning that, beyond any other symbolism, the Acropolis was also
directly relevant to athletic events since, during the festival of the Panathenaea a torch race took place at night, starting
from the altar of Prometheus in the Academy and ending before the altar of Athena on the top of the rock.
Each release five gold coin is struck from .9999 fine gold to the highest proof standards and presented in an official plush
case with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
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The Academy of Athens
The Academy was the foremost intellectual institution of modern Greece, its mission being to promote the Arts and Sciences.
The first discussions regarding its establishment took place during the meeting of the National Assembly at Argos (1826). The
building, designed by the Danish architect Theophilos Hansen, began construction in 1859 on a site ceded by the Petraki
Monastery and the municipality of Athens, with funds offered for the purpose by the Greek public benefactor, Baron Simon
Sinas, which is why it is also known as the “Sinaea Academia”.
The Academy began to operate in 1926, and is constituted by three departments, Exact Sciences, Fine Arts Letters and the Moral and Political Sciences. It has some 65 full or corresponding/associate
members and is governed by a Board; the term of office is one year.
The Academy is the subject of the sixth gold Olympic coin. The intention here is to highlight the premise that in the
city of Athena, the Olympic Games should not only be the most important athletic event, but should be accompanied
by intellectual and cultural activities, in accord with the style and character of the city that was the birthplace and the
matrix for the revival of the modern Olympic Games in 1896.
Each Academy of Athens gold proof coin is struck from .9999 fine gold and presented in an official plush case with a
numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
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