100 Drachmai

The National Bank of Greece turned to the American Bank Note Company for this series at a time when Greek domestic printing capacity simply could not produce security printing of sufficient quality to deter forgery. ABNC dominated Greek note production through much of the nineteenth century, and the long date range here — nearly two decades — reflects not a single uninterrupted issue but rather successive reprintings from the same intaglio plates as stocks were depleted.

Greece during this period was operating under chronic fiscal pressure, its finances still partly subject to foreign oversight following the loan guarantees of the 1830s. The 100 Drachmai denomination would have represented a substantial sum in daily commerce.