Editorial

these issues are commemorative. They have
legal tender status, but are not intended for
circulation. Some of them are inspired by
the history or civilization of Cyprus ; some
others depict the flora and fauna of the
island, mainly species on the verge of
extinction as for example the latest
issue in the series depicting the seal
"Monachus monachus".
The commemorative collector’s
coin conferred the Vicenza
Numismatica award is a £1
silver coin , titled "Triton", issued
by the Central Bank of Cyprus
to mark the island’s accession
to the European Union in May
2004.
Triton, the son of Poseidon, god
of the sea in Greek mythology and
the sea nymph Amphitryte, is depicted
blowing his conch shell announcing
the birth of Aphrodite, goddess
of love, on the shores of Cyprus. Twelve
stars are framing the coin.
Artist Clara Zacharaki Georgiou, a wellknown
painter and stage costume designer
is no stranger to coin designing, either. She
is the only woman in the Mediterranean space
to have designed an entire series of state coins
since she won the competition, among 21
artists, for the Cyprus coin series in 1983. In
fact, out of the 30 coins designed by Cypriot
artists in the past 30 years, eight of them
came from the hands of Clara.
She has also designed some more commemorative
coins: the first one in 1981 on the occasion
of the World Food Day. Another one, for
the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
depicting the Cyprus moufflon, was used as
one of the five coins issued by FAO to raise
funds. Some more commemorative coins were
The commemorative
coin "Triton".
designed by Clara Zacharaki Georgiou for the
Olympic Games of Small Countries, issued
after she won a competition with her design
"O Agon"; for the town of Nikaia (Pireus)
to mark 60 years from the battle of Kokkinias;
for the Socialist Party EDEK, and the emblem
of the Cultural Foundation "Akamanteio".
Clara Zacharaki Georgiou was born on the
Dodecanese island of Leros. She lived there,
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