This attractive 5 lepta coin of the Kingdom of Greece was struck in 1895 at the Paris Mint, as indicated by the mintmark “A” below the date. During the late nineteenth century, Greece often relied on foreign mints-particularly Paris-to produce portions of its coinage due to their advanced minting technology and capacity.

The obverse bears the legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ (“Kingdom of Greece”) surrounding a large royal crown, beneath which appear the date (1895) and the Paris mintmark (A). The prominent crown reflects the authority of the Greek monarchy under King George I, whose long reign of fifty years helped stabilize the young Greek state and guide its political and territorial development during a transformative period in modern Greek history.

The reverse shows ΛΕΠΤΑ above the denomination “5”, framed within a laurel wreath, a motif deeply rooted in Greek classical symbolism. The wreath evokes the ancient Greek tradition of honoring victors and excellence, creating a subtle visual connection between the modern kingdom and the classical heritage that formed an important part of Greek national identity.

Copper-nickel minor coinage such as the 5 lepta served as essential everyday currency within the Greek economy at the end of the nineteenth century. Although widely circulated, examples preserved in exceptional mint state are scarce.

This specimen is particularly impressive, graded NGC MS65+, displaying outstanding preservation and sharp detail, placing it among the finest surviving representatives of the type.