Lot 00144

Georgios I, 1863-1913. Pattern 5 Drachmai 1869 (Gold, 17 mm, 1.60 g, 6 h), Paris mint, struck from dies prepared by the engraver Albert-Désiré Barre, reeded edge. ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ Α! ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΤΩΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΩΝ / E (=Essai). Youthful head of George I to right; below truncation, in tiny letters, BAPPE. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ Laurel wreath containing the denomination and date, 10 / ΔΡΑΧΜΑΙ / 1869 in three lines; below wreath, E (=Essai) . Divo P75. Karamitsos T.51 (this coin mentioned). KM E9. Graded by NGC “PF 65 CAMEO”. Top pop in NGC and PCGS. Cert number: 2908889-007.

From the El-Greco Collection of Modern Greek Rarities, and from the collection of Dimitri Loulakakis, Spink 5, 18 May 1979, 233 (this piece may be the same as the example that appeared as lot 145 of Hess-Leu [8], 29 October 1957).The first set of modern Greek gold coin patterns dates to 1869, and it is probable that only 10 sets were produced. These coins are notably rare, and individual pieces seldom appear, much less groups of them, especially in such high grade as the ones here.