50 Lepta Greece Silver George I of Greece (1845- 1913)

1883, Kingdom of Greece, Georgios I. Silver 50 Lepta Coin. XF+

Mint Year: 1883 Mint Place: Paris (A) Denomination: 50 Lepta Reference: KM-37 ($75 in XF!) Condition: Minor deposits and contact-marks, otherwise a nicely tone XF+ Diameter: 18mm Weight: 2.49gm Material: Silver

Obverse: Head of George I left. Engraver’s signature (“BAPPE”) below bust truncation. Legend: GEWRGIOS A! BAZILEYS TWN ELLHNWN. (privy mark: wasp) - (privy mark: anchor) .

Reverse: Crown above value (50) and denomination (LEPTA). Comment: Date (1883) and mint initial (A) below. Legend: BAZILEON THZ ELLADOZ .

George I, King of the Hellenes (24 December 1845 – 18 March 1913) was King of Greece from 1863 to 1913. Originally a Danish prince, George was only 17 years old when he was elected King by the Greek National Assembly, which had deposed the former King Otto. His nomination was both suggested and supported by the Great Powers (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Second French Empire and the Russian Empire).

As the first monarch of the new Greek dynasty, his 50-year reign (the longest in modern Greek history) was characterized by territorial gains as Greece established its place in pre-World War I Europe. Two weeks short of the fiftieth anniversary of his accession, and during the First Balkan War, he was assassinated. In sharp contrast to his own reign, the reigns of his successors would prove short and insecure.