Αν κάποιος ενδιαφέρεται
STAMP SHEET of 10 - Leonadis SAMPANIS, Greece Olympic Medal Winner Stripped by IOC: 2004 Athens Olympics. The Greek Post Office (ELTA) in 2004, decided to copy what Australia pioneered successfully in 2000, and issue an "Instant" digital print stamp for every Olympic medal winner from Greece. In fact the design is VERY similar to the 2000 Australian issues as you can see. Like Australia, at a later date, offset copies were also printed of medal winner stamps. This idea proved a great success in Greece, and the general public were the ones out there buying these issues for patriotic reasons etc. Only a small percentage of these will ever re-enter the stamp market. The controversial stamp above was issued to honour the Olympic Medal Win of Leonidas Sampanis in the 62 Kilo weight class of Weightlifting. Sampanis won his medal on Monday 16 August, and the stamps were on sparing sale in limited offices the next day, starting Tuesday August 17.
Sampanis later failed his drug test (twice) and on Sunday 22 August the IOC stripped him of his medal. Consequently, on Sunday August 22, ELTA ordered that all remaining stamps be taken off sale nationally, and immediately returned to their central office and NONE were to be sold. Today these stamps are very Rare as only a handful made it into circulation. You do that math yourself! Not large numbers at all for any issue much less an OLYMPIC one. Nearly all stamp sales were to the general public, and tourists via this initial distribution. Many were used on mail and postcards as the 65¢ rate covered airpost worldwide. Bought this MUH sheet in a decease Estate this week. Owner had bought it off Max Stern who sold it for $500 - they are still on sale there as you can see for $A500 - tinyurl.com/MaxMedal - Bought well, I am selling this A5 Mint Unhinged Sheetlet of 10 stamps at $A200 (Stock 637PE)
