Archaeological Site of Philippi

Part of Basilica B, together with linear motifs drawn from the border pattern of an ancient Greek mosaic discovered at the site. Along the inner circle, the inscriptions "ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF PHILIPPI" and "HELLENIC REPUBLIC" (in Greek) are engraved. The issue year 2017 and a palmette — the Greek mint's mark — are also present in the background to the right. The monogram of coin designer Georgios Stamatopoulos appears at lower left.

In north-eastern Greece, in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace, lies the ancient city of Philippi — named after the Macedonian king Philip II, who founded and developed it around 356 BC. Its position on a strategically important trade and military road, the later Via Egnatia, made Philippi for centuries a hub between Europe and Asia. In 42 BC, the Battle of Philippi on the fields outside the city decided the fate of the Roman Republic: the forces of Octavian and Mark Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius, the last defenders of the old senatorial order. Philippi subsequently developed into a flourishing Roman colony with a forum, theatres and temples, whose remains survive to this day.

Philippi also gained world-historical significance as an early Christian site: around 49 AD, the Apostle Paul founded here the first Christian community on European soil and later wrote his Epistle to the Philippians. The archaeological site of Philippi — forum, basilicas, baptistery, theatre and remains of several early Byzantine church buildings — reflects this layering of Macedonian, Roman and early Christian history. UNESCO added the site to the World Heritage List in 2016, recognising its outstanding universal value. On the occasion of this inscription, Greece issued a 2-euro commemorative coin in 2017, bringing the archaeological site of Philippi to wider public awareness.