100th Birthday of Mikis Theodorakis

The Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis (1925–2021) conducting, shown to the right. Along the upper edge, the commemorative inscription "100 XRONIA APO TH ΓENNHΣH TOY MIKH θEOΔΩPAKH"; below it to the right, the coin designer's initials "ΣTAM"; to their left, the palmette of the Greek mint. The issuing state "ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ" appears at lower left, above the year 2025 and a treble clef.

Mikis Theodorakis is one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is closely tied to Greece's recent history. Born in 1925 on the island of Chios, he became politically active at an early age and, during the Second World War, joined the resistance against the German occupation. His body of work includes symphonies, cantatas, ballets, and operas, but he achieved international fame above all through his film scores — most notably the music for the 1964 film "Zorba the Greek," whose syrtaki melody is still regarded today as a musical symbol of Greece. Theodorakis always understood music as a social force: his compositions blended elements of Greek folk music with classical and modern structures, giving him a distinctive, wide-ranging sound.

Politically, Theodorakis was an uncomfortable figure. During the Greek military dictatorship (1967–1974) he was imprisoned and his music banned — a measure that sparked international protests. After his release and exile, he returned to Greece and remained politically engaged well into old age. He served in the Greek parliament both for the communist KKE and later for the conservative New Democracy party, underscoring his political independence. Theodorakis died in Athens in September 2021 at the age of 96. Greece honors him with a 2-euro commemorative coin in 2025 to mark his 100th birthday, recognizing him as a defining figure in Greek culture and history.