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2 euro commemorative coin of the Hellenic Republic, issued in 2024 with a circulation of 735,000 copies. Dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Penelope Delta. The author of the design is Georgios Stamatopoulos. Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g.
Obverse
In the center of the coin is a portrait of Penelope Delta - a Greek writer, known as the founder of children's literature in Greece. Around, in a circle, are placed the Greek inscription: "PENELOPE DELTA 1874-1941" and "ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ 2024". Athens Mint mark (anthem). Monogram of the author "ΣΤΑΜ". On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the European Union.
Reverse
The reverse is the common side of the 2 euro coins of the second type, designed by Luc Luix. It depicts a map of Europe as a single continent without internal borders. On the left is a large denomination "2" and the inscription "EURO", on the right is a map. On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the EU.
Historical context
Penelope Delta (Πηνελόπη Δέλτα, née Benaki, 1874-1941) is a prominent Greek children's writer, the first serious author of children's literature in Greece. She was born on April 1, 1874 in Alexandria (Egypt) into the wealthy Greek Benaki family. Her father, Emanuel Benakis, was a great philanthropist and founder of the Benaki Museum in Athens. She was raised in a cultural environment and received a classical education. In 1895, she married the Greek businessman Stefanos Delta. In 1905, she began writing historical novels for children, which combined patriotic themes with literary sophistication. The most famous works are "For the Fatherland" (1909), "Mangas" (1935), "Secrets of the Swamp" (1937), "Troubas and Yoo" (1911). Her works laid the foundation of Greek children's literature, influencing several generations of Greek children. She laid the foundation for a new literary perception of Greek history, telling in simple language about the events of the Byzantine era, the Balkan Wars, and 20th-century Greece. Having endured a dramatic fate (the death of her daughter and husband), Penelope Delta committed suicide on April 27, 1941, the day German troops entered Athens.