Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;kaparthy, post: 50701, member: 57463&quot;]Nice work with the Greek alphabet, there Malcolm!</p><p>The coin is from Crete (ΚΡΗΤΙΚΗ = Cretan.&nbsp; Kreti = Crete)</p><p><br /></p><p>Even after Greek independence in 1821, Crete was still part of the Ottoman Empire (&quot;Turkey&quot;).&nbsp; Crete revolted in 1896-1897 and Greece declared war on Turkey and was (according to the Columbia Desk Encyclopedia) &quot;utterly defeated.&quot;&nbsp; However, (again CDE) the Great Powers occupied Crete and it joined Greece in 1913.&nbsp; Your coin was struck during this &quot;Great Powers&quot; (I read that as &quot;UK&quot;) occupation of Crete.</p><p><br /></p><p>This series of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 lepta is in the same general style as the Greek coins of the time.&nbsp; The coins of Greece say BASILEION THS ELLADOS (Kingdom of the Greeks) while those of Crete say &quot;Cretan Polity&quot; (to Anglicize the inscription).</p><p><br /></p><p>Mintages of Cretan coins were necessarily small, making this something of a rarity.&nbsp; Prices vary with grade, of course, but in middle grade (Fine) this is probably a $10 retail item.</p><p><br /></p><p>Nice catch![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in