On the national side of the coin, the Greek flag is depicted at the center, surrounded by laurel branches. Around the perimeter appear the inscriptions “1821–2021 200 YEARS FROM THE GREEK REVOLUTION” and “HELLENIC REPUBLIC.” Below, between the laurel branches, the anthemion (mint mark of the I.E.T.A.) is depicted. In 480 BC, the Greeks, under the leadership of the Spartan king Leonidas, attempted to halt the advance of the much stronger Persian army at the narrow pass of Thermopylae. The heroic phrase “Molon Labe” spoken by Leonidas and the self-sacrifice of the Greeks remain an eternal legacy for every nation that fights for its freedom. The European flag was officially adopted in 1985 by decision of the leaders of the ten Member States of the then European Economic Community (EEC). It was based on a design selected in 1955 by another European organization, the Council of Europe, for its own use. The flag consists of twelve gold stars arranged in a circle on a blue background. The stars symbolize the ideals of solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe, while the circle represents unity. The number of stars does not correspond to the number of Member States; rather, the number twelve traditionally symbolizes completeness and perfection.