Weekly World Mint Coinage: July 23, 2026

Greece – Hellenic Mint

Silver Coins Mark Bicentenary Anniversary of the Naming of the City of Hermoupolis

The Bank of Greece releases new silver coins marking an important milestone. Following the declaration of the Greek people’s independence from the Ottoman Empire, the island of Syros enjoyed a status of neutrality under French protection. It was for this specific reason of external protection that many Greeks fled to Syros and settled in the area of ​​today's Hermoupolis.

The name of the would-be city was decided at a meeting held outside the church in 1826. The name Ermoupolis was proposed by a refugee from Chios, Loukas Rallis, who suggested it was a new city of commerce, under the auspices of Hermes, intellect, an overseer of trade and the choice proved prophetic.

Hermoupolis experienced rapid economic and intellectual development thanks to trade, shipping, manufacturing and was adorned with a multitude of public and private neoclassical buildings that rightly earned it the title ‘The Lady of the Cyclades’.

The prooflike silver coins are produced by IETA - the Hellenic Mint at their facilities in Athens on behalf of the Bank of Greece and designed by Georgios Stamatopoulos. The obverse features a classical detailed head and shoulders image of the god Hermes centred, and is shown glancing to the left. As the divine messenger of the Olympian gods, he is depicted wearing a helmet with wings. Surrounding the primary design along the rim is the commemorative inscription 200 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΑΠO ΤΗΝ ΟΝΟΜΑΤΟΔΟΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΡΜΟΥΠΟΛΗΣ (200 years since the naming of Hermoupolis) To the left of the depiction is a small national crest along with the text ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΉ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΊΑ (Hellenic Republic) encircling it. The reverse features an intricately detailed image of the neoclassical building of the Hermoupolis Town Hall centred, designed by the German architect Ernest Ziller, constructed between 1875 and 1891 in the capital of Syros. Above the primary design is the distinctive palmette mintmark of the Greek Mint along with the year of issue 2026 and below, the denomination 5 EURO.

The coins are encased in a blister-pak type folder which includes images and informative text pertaining to the city history. For additional information, please visit the numismatic section of the Bank of Greece.

Italy - IPZS

Iconic Excellence in Transport Design Featured on BU Silver Coins

For eight decades, Vespa has represented a zest for life and a desire to embrace the future. It has become an icon of freedom and emancipation for young people the world over, combining effortless, distinctive ‘Made in Italy’ style with cutting-edge technology. Italy’s IPZS has new silver coins marking an important anniversary in the history of the iconic personal transportation.

Born in the ruins of post-WWII Italy, the Vespa was created by Piaggio, a companyprimarily operated as an aeronautical and rail carriage company before and during the war.  The idea was to provide an affordable, accessible means of transport for a devastated country and its people recovering from the economic and structural damage sustained during World War II. Despite the near-destruction of their Pontedera factory in Tuscany, company head Enrico Piaggio realised Italy desperately needed a cheap, modern, and practical vehicle to navigate ruined roads and essentially get the country moving again. Enrico tasked aeronautical engineer Corradino D'Ascanio with creating a revolutionary new and compact machine.

D'Ascanio disliked traditional motorcycles because of their loud, dirty engines as well as being difficult to mount, so he designed the scooter with a flat floorboard, a step-through frame, and enclosed mechanics that protected the rider from dirt and noise. When Enrico Piaggio first saw the prototype with its wide, rounded rear, narrow ‘waist’ and buzzing engine sound spontaneously caused him to comment ‘Sembra una vespa!’ (It looks like a wasp!) and thus the name of the iconic machine stuck.

Vespa went on to define light urban mobility and which also unknowingly played a role in advancing female independence. It quickly became a cultural icon, finding its way into film, music, art, photography and fashion. The scooter's transformation from a simple post-war utility vehicle into an international star in its own right was heavily propelled by cinema. It gained legendary worldwide fame after being featured in the 1953 film Roman Holiday, starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. This notoriety cemented the Vespa as a quintessential symbol of romance, European cool and carefree travel.

Designed by Valerio De Seta, the obverse includes the official logo centred, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Vespa brand which is framed with a hexagonal frame and features the actual Vespa logo. Along the upper rim is the text REPUBBLICA ITALIANA and along the lower rim is the coins’ year of issue, 2026. The reverse features two Vespa models, the 1946 Vespa 98 at the top and the Vespa Primavera 80th anniversary at the bottom. They are separated by the commemorative inscription VESPA. FOREVER ICONIC and all framed within the characteristic hexagonal shape of the Vespa logo. The denomination 5 EURO is shown to the left in a vertical direction with the intersecting E from VESPA and the currency name sharing the same letter. The letter R placed to the right of the design denotes the Mint of Rome and the name of the designer V.de Seta is seen along the lower rim.

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a heavy-gauge card case accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, visit the e-webshop of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – IPZS.

Ukraine – Ukrainian Mint

Silver Special Finish Coins mark the 250th anniversary of America’s Independence

The National Bank of Ukraine pays tribute to the Semiqunicentennial anniversary of American independence with new silver collector coins. Over the course of 250 years, the United States has become one of the world's leading centres for innovation, research, and international cooperation while also selflessly defending the freedoms of peoples around the world.

Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the United States officially began on 3 January 1992 after the recognition of Ukraine's independence by the United States on 25 December 1991. Since this time, bilateral relations between Ukraine and the United States have steadily evolved, comprehensively spanning the fields of politics, security, economics, science, education, culture and humanitarian cooperation.

The 250th anniversary of U.S. independence is a major milestone in the history of the American people, as well as an opportunity to highlight the strength of Ukrainian-American cooperation, which is growing on a foundation of trust, mutual support and commitment to real democratic values. The partnership between the two nations serves as an example of cooperation between states united by a common pursuit of peace, stability, and justice.

The Proof coins are produced by the Ukrainian Mint at their facilities in Kyiv and designed by Volodymyr Taran and Volodymyr Demianenko. The obverse includes depictions of both the Statue of Liberty who holds a torch of freedom in her right hand and the Mother Ukraine monument who raises a sword with her right hand and a shield in her left hand, the torch and sword symbolise both freedom, independence, democracy and the shared values of the United States and Ukraine. To the left of Lady Liberty along the rim is the Ukrainian commemorative text ВОГОНЬ СВОБОДИ НЕ ЗГАСИТИ! and its English translation is placed along the right rim next to Mother Ukraine THE FLAME OF FREEDOM CANNOT BE EXTINGUISHED! The reverse features a stylised portion of the United States flag, the stars and stripes. To the left of the flag is a small shield of the crest of Ukraine and the text УКРАЇНА (Ukraine) place above the shield and the denomination 10₴ is shown below the shield. The year of issue, 2026 and the text МНОГІЇ ЛІТА! (many years) is placed next to the flag and in a horizontal direction. The remaining commemorative text in English reads Celebrating 250 Years of Liberty – Let There Be Many More! and is shown just under the flag.

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a heavy-gauge card case accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the National Bank of Ukraine.