The Bank of Greece yesterday (5/3) unveiled the anniversary silver coin, which was issued on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the naming of Ermoupolis.

The presentation took place in the context of the Monetary Programme for 2026 at the Central Branch of the Bank of Greece in Athens.

The municipality of Syros – Ermoupolis was represented at the event by the mayor, Alexis Athanasiou, and the deputy mayor of Financial Services, Dimitris Kosmas.

A seal of history that recalls the role of Ermoupolis

The mayor of Syros-Ermoupolis, Alexis Athanasiou, stressed today through a post on Facebook that “the issuance of this coin is an act of high symbolism for our place. It is a national recognition of the historical journey of our city, which was born from refugees“.

“The initiative of the Bank of Greece to commemorate this anniversary by issuing an anniversary coin has special significance for the island. This particular is not only a collector’s item of aesthetics and symbolism, but is a stamp of history that recalls the role of Ermoupolis in shaping modern Greece,” he noted.

At the same time, Athanasiou stressed that the silver coin is “an object that encapsulates the history, values and identity of our city and transmits them to future generations“.

Greetings at yesterday’s event were given by the Governor of the Bank of Greece and a close friend of Syros, Mr. Yannis Stournaras and the President of the Academy of Athens, Mr. Nikiforos Diamantouros.

How it was named

The speakers were Mr. Nikolaos Anastasopoulos Assistant Professor of Modern History, Mr. Konstantinos Grigoropoulos Deputy Director of IETA, Ms. Maria Geranaki Rev. Head of the Department of Wound Typing (IETA).

Ermoupoli was founded in 1822, during the Greek Revolution of 1821. At that time many Greek refugees from islands destroyed by war, such as Chios and Psara, fled to Syros.

There, near the old settlement of Ano Syros, they began to create a new settlement that soon developed into an important commercial center.

The name of the town was decided in an original way, in a council held in 1826 by the first inhabitants of the town outside the church.

It was named Ermoupoli in honor of the ancient god of trade Hermes. The name was proposed by the refugee Chian refugee Loukas Rallis.

The name was chosen because the city quickly developed into an important port and commercial center of the Greek state.

The post of the mayor of Syros-Ermoupolis, Alexis Athanasiou, on Facebook:

“From our participation yesterday in the presentation of the Monetary Programme at the Bank of Greece for 2026.

I am honoured and excited to welcome the presentation of the 2026 Monetary Programme, which includes the anniversary silver coin issued by the Bank of Greece, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the naming of Ermoupolis.

The issuance of this coin is an act of high symbolism for our country. It is a national recognition of the historical journey of our city, which was born from refugees.

Their vision, daring and creativity developed Ermoupolis into the capital of trade, shipping and industry of the newly established Greek state.

The initiative of the Bank of Greece to commemorate this anniversary by issuing an anniversary coin has special significance for the island. This particular one is not only a collector’s item of aesthetics and symbolism, but is a stamp of history that recalls the role of Ermoupolis in shaping modern Greece.

An object that encapsulates the history, values and identity of our city and passes them on to future generations.

As Mayor of Syros-Ermoupolis, I express my sincere thanks to the Bank of Greece and personally to Yannis Stournaras, Governor of the Bank of Greece and a friend of our island, for their cooperation and practical recognition of the importance of this anniversary, as well as to the Association of Syrians, with its President Dimitris Vafia and its Board of Directors, for the help they have given us throughout this period.

May the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the naming of our city be a starting point for new creative goals for the future.”