100th Birthday of Manolis Andronikos

Portrait of the Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos (1919–1992). Running along the inner edge of the coin, the words "HELLENIC REPUBLIC" appear at lower right and the name "MANOLIS ANDRONIKOS" (in Greek script) at upper left. A palmette — the mint mark of the Greek mint — and the issue year 2019 are also visible. To the right is the monogram of coin designer George Stamatopoulos.

Born in Thessaloniki in northern Greece, Manolis Andronikos (1919–1992) shaped the picture of Macedonian antiquity like scarcely any other archaeologist of the 20th century. He taught for decades at the Aristotle University in his home city and devoted much of his research to the excavations at Vergina — ancient Aigai, the first capital of the Kingdom of Macedon. His breakthrough came in 1977, when he uncovered unlooted chamber tombs from the 4th century BC there, including one that, based on its grave goods, he attributed to the Macedonian king Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. The discovery still ranks among the most significant archaeological finds in Greek history.

The debate over the identity of those buried at Vergina continues among scholars to this day, but Andronikos's methodology and his ability to link material remains with ancient written sources set new standards for Greek archaeology. He published numerous standard works, including his monographic study of the Vergina tombs, and brought the site to the attention of a broad international public. Greece's 2019 commemoration of his 100th birthday was the occasion for issuing this 2-euro commemorative coin, with which the Hellenic Republic honors a scholar whose work fundamentally changed the understanding of Macedonian history.