Republic of Cyprus: pre-euro coinage

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Map of Cyprus.

Until 1960, Cyprus had been a British Crown Colony. See: Cyprus: final coinage under British rule.

As a result of nationalist violence by Greek Cypriots in the second half of the 1950s, Britain granted Cyprus independence in 1960. However, Britain retained two military bases on the island, which it still holds today.

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Flag of Cyprus.

From Wikipedia:

The national flag of Cyprus came into use on 16 August 1960, under the Zurich and London Agreements, whereby a constitution was drafted and Cyprus was proclaimed an independent state. The design of the flag deliberately employs peaceful and neutral symbols in an attempt to indicate harmony between the rival Greek and Turkish communities, an ideal that has not yet been realised. In 1963, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities separated because of Cypriot intercommunal violence.

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Coat of arms of Cyprus, 1960 to 2006.

From Wikipedia:

The coat of arms of the Republic of Cyprus depicts a dove carrying an olive branch, symbolizing peace, over "1960", the year of Cypriot independence from British rule. The two-part wreath represents the two ethnic groups of Cyprus, Greeks and Turks.

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From Wikipedia:

In 1960, when Cyprus became independent under the terms of the 1959 Independence Agreement, the decimal coinage of Queen Elizabeth II was allowed to stay in circulation.

In 1963, the Republic of Cyprus began to issue its first coins. These were struck at the Royal Mint (UK). The coins of the 1963 issue consisted of the following: 1 mil, 5 mils, 25 mils, 50 mils, and 100 mils.

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The lowest denomination of the series was the 1 mil coin.

The aluminium 1 mil coin was 12-sided and had a diameter of 18.5 mm.


Above you see the obverse of the 1 mil coin, featuring the coat of arms.

The coat of arms provided the common obverse of the series.


The obverse and reverse designs of the coins were the work of English artist and engraver William Gardner.

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The reverse of the 1 mil coin featured the denomination within a wreath of barley.

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Above you see the obverse of the 5 mils coin.

The coin was made of bronze and had a diameter of 26 mm.

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The reverse design of the 5 mils coin featured an ancient Phoenician galley.

It was more or less the same design that appeared on the 100 mils coins of 1955 and 1957.

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There was no 10 mils coin. Above you see the obverse of the 25 mils coin.

The 25, 50 and 100 mils coins were all made of copper-nickel.

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The reverse design of the 25 mils coin featured a stylised cedar of Lebanon tree.

The coin had a diameter of 19.4 mm.

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The copper-nickel 50 mils coin was 23.5 mm in diameter.

The reverse design featured a bunch of grapes.

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The copper-nickel 100 mils coin was 28.45 mm in diameter.

It weighed 11.3 grams and was the highest denomination of the series.

The reverse design featured a male mouflon (Ovis orientalis ophion).

The mouflon is a wild ram (male) or sheep (female) that is native to Cyprus

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The 1 mil coin of the series was not minted after 1972, presumably because of rising inflation.


Apart from the 1 mil coin, the reverse designs of all the coins have a wavy pattern towards the rim.

I do not know the reason for this. Perhaps it is meant to symbolise the waves lapping around the island nation.


The artist William Gardner also used a similar pattern on the reverse of the New Zealand 1967 $1 coin.

See also:  Beads and dentillations on coins.

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The bronze 5 mils coin was minted for the last time in 1980.

In 1981 a new 12-sided aluminium version of the coin was issued.

The coin was 20 mm in diameter.


The obverse, seen above, featured an amended version of the coat of arms.

The dove looked rather different from the one shown on the other coins.

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The ancient galley design was retained on the reverse of the 5 mils coin.

The new version of the 5 mils coin was issued in 1981 and 1982 only.

That was because a new design series was issued in 1983.