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The Bank of Greece has announced that it will issue a new €5 coin on November 11th as part of its commemorative series "Environment – Endangered Fauna in Greece." This coin will be dedicated to the cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), one of the country's most imposing and, at the same time, most threatened birds of prey.
A colossus of the skies
The cinereous vulture, also known as the black vulture or cinereous vulture, is considered the largest bird of prey in Europe, with a wingspan of up to three meters. With dark plumage and a majestic bearing, it is distinguished by its powerful beak and its unmistakable silhouette in flight.
In Greece, its presence is closely linked to the Dadia Forest in the Evros region , home to the country's only stable breeding population and one of the last two remaining in the entire Balkan Peninsula. Currently, it is estimated that between 29 and 35 pairs nest in the area.
The life cycle and its ecological role
True to its habitat in vast forests, the cinereous vulture builds its enormous nests in the crowns of mature pine trees, where it raises a single chick each year. Its diet is exclusively scavenging , feeding on the carcasses of large mammals. This habit plays a vital role in ecosystems: it helps keep the environment free of organic remains, thus reducing the spread of disease and promoting natural balance.
Threats to their survival
Despite its ecological importance, the species is critically endangered in Greece. The main threats include:
The illegal poisoning of wildlife, which directly affects vultures by feeding on poisoned animals.
Collisions and habitat loss resulting from energy infrastructure such as wind turbines and power lines.
Forest fires, which destroy both their breeding and feeding areas.
The combination of these factors has drastically reduced their populations in Europe, where only four species of vultures maintain active reproduction, the black vulture being one of them.
The Coin
The coin's reverse features a polychrome design highlighting the majestic silver silhouette of the vulture in full flight, its wings outstretched against a mountainous landscape in shades of green and blue, evoking its natural habitat. At the top, in Greek, appears the inscription "ΑΠΕΙΛΟΥΜΕΝΑ ΖΩΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΑΣ" (Endangered Animals of Greece), alongside the species' scientific name, "Aegypius monachus." To the right, against the background, is the year of issue, "2025," accompanied by the mint mark, while at the bottom is the face value, "5 ΕΥΡΩ". The overall design conveys both the beauty and the fragility of this vulture, one of the largest in the world and an emblem of Greek biodiversity conservation.
The obverse of the piece shows the Greek coat of arms in the center, next to the inscription in two lines «ЕЛЛЗНЙКЗ ДЗМПКСБФЙБ» (HELLENIC REPUBLIC), all framed on the outer edge of the design by the busts of the six animals that make up this series of coins.
Technical specifications
Country: Greece
Year: 2025
Face value: €5
Metal: Silver 33.3%
Design: L. Pavli
Weight: 17 g
Diameter: 31 mm
Quality: Proof
Print run: 2,000
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