Greece 2010 2.500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon
2.500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon
The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC during
the first
Persian invasion of Greece. It was fought between the citizens
of Athens,
aided by Plataea, and a Persian force commanded by Datis and Artaphernes.
The battle was the culmination of the first attempt by Persia, under King Darius I,
to subjugate Greece.
The Greek army inflicted a crushing defeat on the more numerous Persians,
marking a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars.
The coin commemorates the 2.500th anniversary of the Battle
of Marathon. The centre of the coin shows a synthesis of a shield and a
runner/warrior representing the struggle for freedom and the noble ideals that
the Battle of Marathon stands for. The bird on the shield symbolises the birth
of Western civilisation in its present form. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12
stars of the European Union.
Weight - 8.5 g.
Quality - UNC (Uncirculated)
Diameter - 25.75 mm.
Composition - Bimetallic - nickel brass clad
nickel center in copper-nickel ring
Circulation - 2'500'000 pcs.
Country of origin - Greece
Year of release - 2010
