
Liquidation of gold sovereigns at the Bank of Greece (BoG) last year reached 52,241, up by 14.6 percent from the previous year, 2021, a development attributed to a tightening economic situation due to surging energy prices – which greatly contributed to unprecedented eurozone inflation – as well as high gold prices.
Nevertheless, the figure is a far cry from the 2007-08 period – down by roughly 85 percent.
Conversely, the number of gold sovereigns (the UK bullion) sold by the BoG totaled 11,236.
For 2021, the figure is 45,588 gold sovereigns liquidated, and 6,531 purchased.
Compared with a peak in 2010 – the year that witnessed the first institutional bailout for Greece – purchase of gold sovereigns in the country was down by 94 percent.
Although Greece’s central bank is essentially the only legal point for buying and selling gold sovereigns (along with at least one commercial bank), an “underground” market also exists for buying and selling of such traded coins, which means that only official transactions are recorded.
Liquidated sovereigns’ value was estimated at 20.3 million euros.


Latest News

Eurostat: Women and Youth Most Underpaid in Greece
In the EU 18.2% of women are low-paid compared to men, against 23% in Greece. A staggering 43% of young Greeks are low-paid—the second-worst rate in Europe.

Public Services in Greece to Go Under Review with New Rating Tool
Public services will receive their evaluation scores and feedback directly, fostering a system of accountability and continuous improvement.

Istanbul Earthquake – Greek Prof. Concerned Major Quake Yet to Strike
Responding to concerns over whether a potential major quake in Istanbul could affect Greece, Papazachos was reassuring: “The fault extends as far as Lemnos and the Northern Sporades, but it doesn’t rupture all at once. An earthquake in Istanbul doesn’t have the capacity to directly affect Greek territory.”

Greece 4th Most Popular Summer Destination for Europeans
Southern Europe remains the top choice for Europeans at 41%, though down 8% from last year, likely due to rising temperatures and climate concerns.

Easter Sales Performance and the Source of €4–5 Million in Losses
Easter retail sales were relatively weak this year, with the only "real winners" being the livestock farmers who had lambs to sell.

Hotel Foreclosures Continue to Plague Greece’s Islands
A surge in hotel foreclosures across Greece’s islands threatens small tourism businesses, despite booming visitor numbers and record-breaking travel in 2024.

Athens Launches Task Force to Safeguard Historic City Center
The new municipal unit will ensure compliance to zoning laws, curb noise, and address tourist rental issues starting from the Plaka district.

WTTC: Travel & Tourism to Create 4.5M New Jobs in EU by 2035
This year, international visitor spending is set to reach 573 billion euros, up by more than 11% year-on-year

IMF: US Tariffs Shake Global Economy, Outlook Downbeat
IMF slashes global growth forecast to 2.8% as U.S. tariffs create uncertainty and ‘negative supply shock

First Step Towards New Audiovisual Industry Hub in Drama
The project is set to contribute to the further development of Greece’s film industry and establish Drama as an audiovisual hub in the region