75th Anniversary of the Death of Kostis Palamas

Portrait of the Greek poet Kostis Palamas (1859–1943). Along the left inner edge of the coin, the inscriptions "HELLENIC REPUBLIC" and the name "KOSTIS PALAMAS" (in Greek script) are engraved. A palmette — the Greek mint's mark — and the issue year 2018 are also visible. The monogram of coin designer Georgios Stamatopoulos appears at lower right.

Kostis Palamas is regarded as one of the most important poets of modern Greek literature and played a decisive role in establishing Dimotiki — the demotic language — as a legitimate medium of literary expression. Born in Patras in 1859, he shaped Greek cultural and intellectual life for decades as a poet, playwright, critic and editor. His body of work spans several thousand pages, including the monumental epics "The Twelve Words of the Gypsy" and "The King's Flute", which remain part of the canon of Greek literature to this day. He also became internationally known for his hymn text for the revival of the Olympic Games in 1896, which is still sung at Olympic opening ceremonies today.

Palamas died in February 1943 during the German occupation of Greece — a death that became a national symbol. His funeral in Athens turned into a silent mass demonstration against the occupiers; thousands gathered despite the risk of reprisals. His influence extends far beyond literature: he embodied a culture's resistance against oppression and foreign political domination, and he is revered in Greece to this day as a national icon. On the 75th anniversary of his death, Greece honoured his legacy in 2018 with this commemorative coin.