Greece: New silver collector coin dedicated to the centenary anniversary of the Hellenic Mathematical Society

The Bank of Greece has announced that they have issued, on the 20th December, their last silver Proof collector coin for 2018 and will be in recognition of the centenary anniversary of the founding of the Hellenic Mathematical Society.

Greece has a rich tradition in mathematics since antiquity, with such figures as Thales, Pythagoras, Euclid, and Archimedes. Founded in 1918 in Athens with the mission of promoting the discipline and continuously improving mathematical education, the Hellenic Mathematical Society (HMS) today counts more than 15,000 members and 34 regional branches, with a notable contribution to the advancement of science and culture. To achieve its mission, the HMS conducts a range of activities, such as the organisation of training programmes, the annual national conference on mathematical education, and three annual national mathematical competitions, the winners of which form the national team that represents Greece in the Balkan and International Mathematical Olympiads. The HMS also publishes a number of journals, as well as selected mathematical books by Greek and foreign authors.

Its operation one hundred years on from its founding is based on the volunteering of its members, its management, the dozens of members of the society in the working committees in Athens and other cities, as well as all other members who contribute on a case-by-case basis. The purpose of HMA is and remains to promote and disseminate the various disciplines of mathematical science. This goal is achieved through a series of set objectives which include the following:

1. The progress of mathematics science

2. A development of the free exchange of information between mathematicians, scientists, and society.

3. The development and maintenance of scientific integrity and the improvement of the capabilities of its members.

4. Substantial and continuous improvement of mathematical education and the progress of general education.

5. An approach of the Greek mathematician, their briefing on all recent advances in science and technology, and the provision of practical help on issues that concern them during academic, educational, and teaching work.

As part of the national official recognition of the society’s centenary anniversary, a decision of the Ministry of Education has declared 2018 the Year of Mathematics to celebrate the centennial of the founding of the Hellenic Mathematical Society (HMS).

The silver Proof-quality coins are produced by the Hellenic State Mint at their facilities in Athens, on behalf of the Bank of Greece, and are designed by M. Antonatou. The obverse side is dominated by the Greek letter π (known as Pi), and references its value as one of the most common constants in all of mathematics. It is the circumference of any circle, divided by its diameter. The centred figure is surrounded by a collection of equations well-known to many a mathematician, including E=mc², publicised by the nuclear physicist Albert Einstein and is seen below the pi. The primary design is partially encircled by the text 100 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΜΑΘΗΜΑΤΙΚΗ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ (“100 years of the Hellenic Mathematical Society”).

The reverse side of the coin includes a selection of mathematical symbols and equations arranged in a geometrical pattern. The Greek national crest is placed in the centre and is seen with a blue colour applied to the wreath and the cross. The denomination of 6 ΕΥΡΩ is placed below the crest with the year of issue, 2018, shown above the lettering ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΉ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΊΑ.

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Maximum Mintage
€6	.925 Silver	10 g	28.5 mm	Proof with applied colour	1,500

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom Bank of Greece-branded case, along with a certificate of authenticity. For the purchase of one (1) coin per person, collectors residing in Greece can visit the Bank of Greece in Athens in person. Those outside Greece can e-mail a request, using the relevant ordering form, to the following mailing address: .

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