The opening of the temporary exhibition “Messages in Metal. A Timeless Dialogue with Cyprus,” which brings to Cyprus for the first time a significant section of Alpha Bank’s internationally renowned Numismatic Collection.
The opening ceremony was presided over by the Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus, Dr. Christodoulos Patsalides. Also delivering remarks at the event were the Mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Pruntzos; Fotini Papadopoulou, Commissioner of the A. G. Leventis Foundation, Dimitris Tsitsirangos, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Alpha Bank Group, and Miltos Michaelas, CEO of Alpha Bank Cyprus. The event was moderated by the Director of the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia, Dr. Jenny Lyberopoulou Savvidou, while Dr. Dimitra Tsagkari, Curator of Alpha Bank’s Numismatic Collection and curator of the exhibition, presented her scholarly and museological approach.
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The exhibition is an initiative of Alpha Bank that brings together exhibits from its Numismatic Collection with coins from the collections of the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia. A total of 136 coins are on display: 110 from Alpha Bank’s Numismatic Collection, 23 from the collection of the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia, and 3 from the collection of the Leventis Art Gallery. The coming together of these collections highlights Cyprus’s rich numismatic tradition and the island’s place in the political, economic, and cultural history of the Eastern Mediterranean.
The exhibition narrative is structured around three thematic sections: “Transactions,” “Narrative,” and “Symbolism,” highlighting coins as a medium of exchange as well as valuable historical artifacts. The depictions, symbols, and inscriptions on the coins reveal insights into the economy, power, identity, and values of the societies that created them.
The exhibition is accompanied by a bilingual scholarly publication, edited by Dr. Dimitra Tsangari. In addition, throughout the exhibition, there will be lectures, guided tours, and educational programs for families with children and students in primary and secondary school.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus, Dr. Christodoulos Patsalides, who presided over the exhibition’s opening, stated in his speech: “The rare coins on display here are not merely valuable objects, but living testimonies to the history and cultures that created them. The coming together of Alpha Bank’s Numismatic Collection with the treasures of the Leventis Museum highlights a timeless dialogue between culture and memory. For Cyprus, numismatic history is an integral part of its identity. Through these exhibits, the journey of a place distinguished by its resilience and cosmopolitan character unfolds.”
The Mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Prountzos, highlighted the important role of the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia in preserving and showcasing the capital’s history, while welcoming Alpha Bank’s initiative and the collaboration that led to the creation of the exhibition: “I would like to warmly congratulate Alpha Bank on this initiative and the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia for the excellent collaboration that led to today’s exhibition. It is particularly important to foster collaborations between different organizations, allowing their collections to transcend their usual boundaries, come together, and be presented to the public through new approaches.”
Fotini Papadopoulou, Commissioner of the A. G. Leventis Foundation, noted “For the A. G. Leventis Foundation, supporting culture is a long-standing commitment, and the activities of the Leventis Municipal Museum are part of this philosophy.”
Dimitris Tsitsirangos, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Alpha Bank Group, spoke about the Bank’s responsibility toward the economy and society, emphasizing: “Behind every banking transaction lie people’s needs and plans. A bank’s responsibility is to consistently support them. Because a society needs institutions that endure. Our responsibility, however, also extends to the things that keep a society united: knowledge, education, health, and culture. Our Numismatic Collection embodies this responsibility: to preserve a valuable heritage and make it accessible to everyone, especially children and young people.”
Miltos Michaelas, CEO of Alpha Bank Cyprus, emphasized: “For more than 50 years, the Numismatic Collection has been an integral part of Alpha Bank’s history. Its significance lies both in the historical value and rarity of its artifacts and in the knowledge it imparts. Through the Collection, we support research and education, contribute to a better understanding of the past, and bring people of all ages closer to history and culture. We believe that a bank’s relationship with society is built over time, through trust, consistency, and a meaningful presence.”
In her remarks, the Director of the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia, Dr. Jenny Lyberopoulou Savvidou, referred to the collaboration that led to the creation of the exhibition and the importance of bringing together different institutions through culture. For her part, Dr. Dimitra Tsangari, Curator of the Alpha Bank Numismatic Collection and curator of the exhibition, presented the curatorial approach and the Collection’s historical scope, as well as how the exhibition highlights Cyprus’s numismatic history while utilizing digital applications and interactive tools that enrich the visitor’s experience.
About the Alpha Bank Numismatic Collection
Alpha Bank’s Numismatic Collection has been systematically expanded since 1972 and currently includes more than 11,000 ancient coins, ranging from Britain to India and from Ukraine to Ethiopia, as well as 2,500 coins and banknotes from the modern Greek state. One of the early coins from Aegina served as the inspiration for the logo adopted by Alpha Bank in 1972, a year that also marks the beginning of the creation of its Numismatic Collection.
The exhibition opens to the public
The exhibition “Messages in Metal. A Timeless Dialogue with Cyprus” opens to the public on Friday, October 16, 2026, and will run through January 10, 2027.
- Venue: Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia
- Dates: October 16, 2026 – January 10, 2027
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (Closed Mondays and on official holidays)
- Information: leventismuseum.org.cy / alphabank.com.cy
