CNG 103, Lot: 1020. Estimate $7500. Sold for $24000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GREECE, Kingdom. Georgios II. Second reign, 1935-1947. AV 100 Drachmai (35mm, 32.41 g, 12h). Commemorating the Fifth Anniversary of the Restoration of the Monarchy. Heaton (Birmingham) mint. Dated 25 November 1935, though struck 1940. Bare head left / Crowned denomination within wreath. Sweeny GR4; Karamitsos 182; KM 76; Friedberg 19. UNC. Very rare.

From the collection of Dr. Lawrence A. Adams, purchased from M. Louis Teller, November 1991.

This coin was part of an issue struck in 1939 to commemorate the re-establishment of the kingdom. The order for their production, placed through Spink, was delivered after the Second World War had started, and the coins were never delivered to the Greek authorities. Spink put the coins up for sale with a special concession from the Greek Government (see Spink Numismatic Circular, January 1941); the 100 drachmai were sold for £25. During the course of the war, Spink's offices were bombed and a number of these coins were lost. The original order placed by the Greek Government was for 140 pieces of the 100 Drachmai and 200 pieces of the 20 Drachmai.