Catalog
20 000 Drachmai second issue, with date
| Issuer | Bank of Greece |
|---|---|
| Year | 1949 |
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| Size | 150 × 80 mm |
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| Obverse lettering | 20.000 Ζ.05- 394 820 ΤΡΑΠΕΖΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ Βʹ ΔΡΑΧΜΑΙ ΕΙΚΟΣΙ ΧΙΛΙΑΔΕΣ Πληρωτέαι ἐπί τῇ ἐμφανίσει ΕΝ ΑΘΗΝΑΙΣ Τῌ 29η ΔΕΚΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ 1949 ΟΙ ΔΙΕΥΘΥΝΤΑΙ Ο ΔΙΟΙΚΗΤΗΣ Ζ.05- 394 820 20.000 |
| Reverse description | Blue on pale blue and pink underprint. The watermark window is positioned at left, while a central vignette presents the head of Medusa alongside a crowing rooster — a pairing drawn from ancient Greek mythological and symbolic tradition. The denomination is stated in large numerals at right, framed by guilloche patterning and letterpress inscriptions identifying the issuing authority. |
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| Comments |
Greece redenominated in November 1944, converting old drachmai at 50 billion to one new drachma — a ratio that makes plain how catastrophically the Axis occupation had destroyed the currency. By 1949, inflation had again pushed denominations into the tens of thousands, and this second issue of the 20,000 incorporates a printed date, distinguishing it from the first issue where the date field was left incomplete or applied separately.
The note was printed domestically at the Holargos facility, which had been established in 1947 specifically to bring Greek banknote production in-house after decades of reliance on foreign printers.