Greece resumed silver coinage in 1960 after years of postwar economic disruption, and this denomination was part of a broader stabilization effort following the catastrophic inflation that had rendered earlier Greek currency essentially worthless during the Axis occupation. The drachma redenominated in 1954 — one new drachma equaling 1,000 old — and the 20-drachmai piece represented real purchasing power in the early 1960s Greek economy.
The .835 fineness is the traditional European silver standard, shared with Swiss and French coinage of the same period rather than the older Greek fine silver issues.
Greece resumed silver coinage in 1960 after years of postwar economic disruption, and this denomination was part of a broader stabilization effort following the catastrophic inflation that had rendered earlier Greek currency essentially worthless during the Axis occupation. The drachma redenominated in 1954 — one new drachma equaling 1,000 old — and the 20-drachmai piece represented real purchasing power in the early 1960s Greek economy.
The .835 fineness is the traditional European silver standard, shared with Swiss and French coinage of the same period rather than the older Greek fine silver issues.