State Quarters
Trip Start
Sep 07, 2008
1
25
148
Trip End
Dec 09, 2008
Athens,
Greece
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Athena's one euro coin
Hey, did you know that the European Union has the equivalent of state quarters? This was my bit of enlightenment for the day from our Greek language professor Gina. The Euro coins are all the same on one side, but each country can determine their own design on the other side. So the Greek One Euro coin is Athena's owl of wisdom, based on coins designed in 300 BCE.
Europa's two euro coin
The Greek Two Euro coin depicts Europa on the bull, from a mosaic design discovered in Sparta. In Greek mythology, Europa (which would be pronounced in Greek "ehv-ROE-pee") was a Phoenician princess with beautiful big eyes. Zeus desired her, so he transformed himself into a white bull. Europa and her maids approached to pet the bull, and he bucked and put Europa onto his back and abducted her to Crete, the southernmost tip of Europe. And that's why we call the continent "Europe." 
Comments
State Quarters & Special Euros
Wow -- How interesting! ! I wonder if the Greek One Euro is horded or hard to find like the 2004 Florida US quarter I can not find or the 2007 Utah US quarter that has also alluded me! -George
Re: State Quarters & Special Euros
They tell me that the ones that are hoarded in Greece are the special Olympic designs from 2004.