2€ Euro Greece 2013 – Plato’s Academy, Colored

Collectible colored commemorative 2 euro coin, issued by the Bank of Greece in 2013 to honor the 2400th anniversary of the founding of Plato’s Academy. The inner part of the coin showcases a portrait of Plato, with a background depicting part of Raphael’s fresco ‘The School of Athens’.

Plato’s Academy, founded in 387 BC by Plato, was an institution that significantly contributed to educational activities in Athens. It was named ‘Academy’ due to its location in the gardens of Akademos. There, Aristotle studied for 20 years before establishing his own school. The Academy continued to operate as a philosophical school throughout the Hellenistic period until the death of Philo of Larissa in 83 BC.

Plato’s philosophy continued to be taught in Athens until the revival of the Academy in 410 AD as a center of Neoplatonism. In 529 AD, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian closed the Academy, as anything Greek was considered idolatrous at that time.

This unique, rare, and collectible coin is a wonderful addition to any coin collection.