Modern Greek Banknotes

Before the entrance of euros in January 2002 in the daily life of Greece, the Greek residents and all the visitors were using another form of currency, the Greek drachmas. There were different kinds of bank notes and coins.

Bank Notes

The bank notes had different kinds of colors and represented famous Greek People, politicians, Ancient Greek Gods, important personalities such as the world-known doctor George Papanikolaou, heroes of the Greek revolution and more.

100-DRACHMA NOTE

Theme: Letters - Education and their contribution to the nation's independence

Main Design:

Front: Head of Athena (intaglio printing)

Reverse: Adamantios Korais (wet offset printing).

Colouring: red

Dimensions: 158x67mm.

Paper security features:

Watermark, head of Charioteer of Delphi.

Security thread.

Date of issue: 8 December 1978.

200-DRACHMA NOTE

Theme: Nation's spiritual preparation for the Greek War of Independence (1821)

Main Design:

Front: Rigas Velestinlis- Fereos (wet offset printing).

Reverse: ''The Secret School'', after an oil painting by Nikolaos Gyzis (wet offset printing).

Colouring: orange.

Dimensions: 129x65mm.

Paper security features:

Watermark, head of King Philip of Macedonia.

Security thread.

Randomly distributed security fibres.

Date of issue: 2 September 1996.

500-DRACHMA NOTE

Theme: The first Governor in Greece after the War of Independence (1821) agricultural development

Main Design:

Front: Ioannis Capodistrias (intaglio printing).

Reverse: The Citadel of Corfu (intaglio printing).

Colouring: green

Dimensions: 158x72mm.

Paper security features:

Watermark, head of Charioteer of Delphi.

Security thread.

Date of issue: 1 February 1983

1000-DRACHMA NOTE

Theme: Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games

Main Design:

Front: Head of Apollo (intaglio printing)

Reverse: Temple of Hera at Ancient Olympia and Discobolus (discus thrower) by Myron (intaglio printing).

Colouring: brown

Dimensions: 158x77mm.

Paper security features:

Watermark, head of Charioteer of Delphi.

Security thread.

Date of issue: 1 July 1987

5000-DRACHMA NOTE

Theme: Greek War of Independence (1821).

Main Design:

Front: General Theodoros Kolokotronis (intaglio printing)

Reverse:the town of Karytena (wet offset printing).

Colouring: deep blue

Dimensions: 147x74mm.

Paper security features:

Watermark, head of King Philip of Macedonia.
Electrotype watermark.	Security thread.	Randomly distributed security fibres.

Date of issue: 1 June 1997

10000-DRACHMA NOTE

Theme: Health

Main Design:

Front:Dr. George Papanicolaou (intaglio printing)

Reverse:Asclepius (intaglio printing)

Colouring: purple

Dimensions: 153x77mm.

Paper security features:

Watermark, head of King Philip of Macedonia.
Security thread.	Randomly distributed security fibres.

Date of issue: 16 January 1995.