Memorabile

Memorabile. Medals of the National Mint

The Numismatic Museum in collaboration with the National Mint (IETA) of the Bank of Greece and the Hellenic Parliament organises a temporary exhibition entitled: “Memorabile. Medals of the National Mint” on the occasion of the European Heritage Days 2025. The exhibition is taking place at the “Manto Oikonomidou” Hall on the first floor of the Iliou Melathron, which is dedicated to the late Director of the Numismatic Museum. 

The Banknote Printing Works of the Bank of Greece (IETA), in addition to printing euro banknotes and coins, is engaged in the production of commemorative coins and medals within the framework of the Numismatic Programmes of the Ministry of Finance, as well as on behalf of other organisations. This exhibition presents a unique collection of commemorative, anniversary, and honorary medals that serve as living carriers of Greek history, collective memory, and cultural heritage.

The exhibition is organised into three main sections:

• The first section presents anniversary and commemorative medals issued by the National Mint (IETA) on behalf of various bodies within the broader Greek public sector, such as the Organisation for the Management and Development of Cultural Resources (ODAP) and the Hellenic Post (ELTA), as well as for third-party organisations, including the Panhellenic Numismatic Union and the Corfu Reading Society. Among these, particular attention is drawn to the medals issued in collaboration with the Bank of Greece and its Employees’ Association, as well as to those medals highlighting the Greek archaeological heritage (ODAP, Acropolis Museum).
• The second section includes the commemorative medals issued by the Hellenic Parliament in collaboration with the National Mint in order to mark significant national anniversaries. The exhibition showcases nineteen medals, which were donated to the Numismatic Museum in 2018 and 2025. It also features medals awarded by the President of the Parliament, primarily to Heads of State and Parliaments, representing the highest honour bestowed by the Hellenic Parliament.
• The final section displays the commemorative and anniversary medals issued on behalf of the Numismatic Museum since 2003, on the occasion of the European Heritage Days and other significant anniversaries. The obverse bears depictions inspired from ancient, Roman/Greco-Roman, Byzantine, and modern coins from the museum’s collections, and on the reverse they bear the façade of the Iliou Melathron, which houses the museum. In this same section, the 2025 commemorative medal will be presented alongside its cast, master dies and working dies used in its production.