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Greece has released a new 100-euro gold coin commemorating one of the pivotal moments in the Iliad: the confrontation between Achilles and Agamemnon over Briseis. The coin is part of the "Greek Mythology – Homer's Iliad" series and goes beyond simply depicting a famous episode from the poem; it immortalizes in gold the personal conflict that led to the withdrawal of the greatest Achaean warrior and altered the course of the Trojan War.
Issued by Greece and minted by the Mint of the Bank of Greece, the coin has a face value of 100 euros, is made of 99.99% pure gold, and has a maximum mintage of only 1,200 pieces. It went on sale on September 8, 2026, with an official price of 650 euros, including VAT.
A scene that sets the entire Iliad in motion
The dispute over Briseis is not a minor episode. From it springs the wrath of Achilles, foreshadowed in the poem's first verse, and from that wrath arises the chain of events that leads to Patroclus' death, the hero's return to battle, and his final duel with Hector.
The wrath of Achilles and the fate of Briseis
The Iliad does not begin with the abduction of Helen or with the arrival of the Achaeans at Troy. Homer enters the story during the tenth year of the war and concentrates the action in a much shorter period. Its first word, mênin, means "anger": the wrath of Achilles is the true axis around which the poem revolves.
The conflict erupts after Chryses, a priest of Apollo, goes to the Greek camp to rescue his daughter Chryseis, given to Agamemnon as war booty. The king rejects the request and humiliates the old man. In response, Apollo sends a plague against the Achaean army. Forced to return Chryseis to stop the punishment, Agamemnon demands compensation and decides to take Briseis, the captive who had been given to Achilles after the sack of Lyrnessus.
The gesture carries a weight that goes far beyond the loss of a woman. Within the heroic world's code of honor, Agamemnon publicly strips Achilles of the prize that made his rank visible to the other warriors. Achilles even considers killing the king, but Athena stops him. Unable to accept the affront, he abandons the battle with his Myrmidons and asks his mother, the Nereid Thetis, to intercede with Zeus so that the Trojans may gain the upper hand until the Achaeans atone for the offense.
The scene dedicated to the abduction of Briseis occupies one side of the coin.
Briseis is handed over to the heralds Talthybius and Eurybates, who escort her from the hero's tent to Agamemnon's. The Homeric text shows her leaving reluctantly, while Achilles withdraws from his companions and weeps by the sea. It is a restrained scene, without battle, but with enormous consequences: the warrior's absence allows the Trojans to push back the Achaeans and reach their ships.
Agamemnon eventually offered Briseis's return, along with gifts and a sworn statement that he had not joined her, but Achilles still refused to go back. Only the death of Patroclus at Hector's hands transformed his fury. The anger directed against Agamemnon then shifted to the Trojan prince, and Achilles returned to battle. Thus, the scene chosen for this coin represents the emotional starting point of all the subsequent tragedy.
Briseida, more than just a "prize"
The poem reflects the rules and violence of the warrior world it depicts, but it also grants Briseis her own voice. In her lament for Patroclus, she recalls the destruction of her city and the death of her family. This passage removes her, at least for a moment, from the role of an object of contention and reveals the human cost of war from the perspective of a captive woman.
Coin design
The obverse depicts a standing Achaean warrior, armed with a long spear and protected by a large round shield bearing a winged horse. The figure is shown in profile, facing right. At the top is the inscription "OMHROY ILIADA" — Homer's Iliad —, while at the bottom are the year "2026", the national emblem, and the legend "ELHLHNIKI DHMOKRATIA" — Hellenic Republic —. The artist's initials appear along the edge.
The reverse focuses on the human moment that triggers the conflict. An Achaean warrior appears on the left, dressed in military attire and wielding a spear and sword, extending a hand toward Briseis. She, enveloped in a long cloak, turns her face away and keeps her hands close to her chest, a gesture that conveys reserve and sorrow. The separation between the two figures visually reinforces the idea of rupture. Above the scene is the inscription "Η ΑΡΠΑΓΗ ΤΗΣ ΒΡΙΣΗΙΔΑΣ" — The Abduction of Briseis — and, at the bottom, the face value "100 ΕΥΡΩ".
L. Pavlí 's work features a clean composition, with few elements surrounding the figures. This restraint works particularly well in a piece measuring just 17.50 millimeters: instead of attempting to summarize the entire Trojan War, the composition focuses on a gaze, an outstretched hand, and the distance that opens up between the two protagonists.
The coin is presented encapsulated in a wooden case and accompanied by its certificate of authenticity.
Coin characteristics
Feature Data
Issuing country Greece
Year of issue 2026
Series Greek Mythology – Homer's Iliad
Reason The Wrath of Achilles – The Abduction of Briseis
Face value 100 euros
Metal Gold (Au) 99.99%
Weight 3.89 g
Diameter 17.50 mm
Singing Smooth
Quality Proof
Maximum print run 1,200 pieces
Artist L. Pavlí
Presentation Wooden case and certificate of authenticity
Date it goes on sale September 8, 2026
Official price 650 euros, VAT included
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