Catalog
10 Lepta
| Issuer | Greece |
|---|---|
| Year | 1922 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | ΕΛΛΑΣ 10 ΛΕΠΤΑ 10 (Translation: Greece 10 Lepta 10) |
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| Variants | P#313a - Square perforations P#313b - Zig-zag perforations |
| Comments |
The 1922 Greek small-denomination emergency notes — including this 10 Lepta — were created through one of the more unusual monetary expedients in European history. Facing a severe coin shortage and wartime financial strain during the Asia Minor campaign, the Greek government authorized the physical cutting in half of existing 1 Drachmai banknotes. Each half circulated as a separate 50 Lepta note; this 10 Lepta piece came from a different but parallel emergency issue of the same period.
The bisection scheme was legally formalized, with each half retaining its validity — a rare case where mutilation of currency was not just tolerated but mandated by decree.