Greece 10 Euro 2020 Battle of Thermopylae - Leonidas

The battle of Thermopylae can be seen as a battle in which an ant takes on an elephant! Under the leadership of the Spartan leader Leonidas an army of 4000 men (of which 300 were Spartans) had to compete against an army of a million. Spartans were seen as elite fighters, the best in the world. Leonidas chose a strategic place in the mountains where one side was a steep cliff and the other was a steep mountain slope. The Greeks lined up in a phalanx, an arrangement with a dense row of shields and spears extended. This arrangement was several rows deep. Because they could not be surrounded they were virtually impenetrable. Even the 'Immortals', the elite infantrymen of the Persians, could not get through this barrier. Eventually the Persians managed to overpower the Greeks because the Greek Ephialtes told the Persians about another mountain pass. A film, entitled '300', was made about this battle. On the obverse of the coin Leonidas is depicted together with many spears. His name is displayed in Greek along with the year of issue, 2020. The reverse of the coin shows both Greek and Persian fighters. Also in the Greek language is the country name 'Greek Republic' and the value indication of 10 Euro. In the centre is the coat of arms of Greece. The coin is presented in a deluxe package and is supplied with a numbered certificate.