Greece 2 Euro 2020 Battle of Thermopylae Leonidas Proof

Greece has issued a 2 Euro in 2020 with the theme 'The Battle of Thermopylae'. This bloody battle can be seen as a battle where an ant fights against an elephant. Led by the Spartan leader Leonidas, an army of 4000 men (including 300 Spartans) had to compete against an army of millions. Spartans were seen as elite fighters, the best in the world. Leonidas chose a strategic spot in the mountains with a steep cliff on one side and a steep mountain slope on the other. The Greeks positioned themselves in a phalanx, an arrangement of Greeks with a dense row of shields with outstretched lances, this arrangement was several rows deep. Because they could not be surrounded they were almost impenetrable. Even the elite Persian infantrymen, called the Immortals, 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 called '300' has been made of this battle. On the face of this Greek 2 Euro coin a Spartan (Corinthian) helmet is depicted. Above it, written in Greek is the text '2500 years, Battle of Thermoplyae'. At the bottom of the coin, also written in Greek, is the text 'Greek Democracy'. The coin is in the quality Proof. Only 5,000 of these Proof coins have been produced, of which 1,200 have been made available for sale.