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25 Drachmai
| Issuer | National Bank of Greece |
|---|---|
| Year | 1841 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | P#15 |
| Obverse description | An ornate rectangular border frames the note, with classical allegorical figures rendered in intaglio vignettes at the left and right margins. The central field carries the bold Greek denomination inscription 'ΔΡΑΧΜΑΙ ΕΙΚΟΣΙΠΕΝΤΕ' in letterpress, above which the issuer's name and founding law reference appear; a dry embossed official seal is applied at the left-center. Three signature lines designated for the Director, Royal Commissioner, and Cashier appear in the lower portion of the note. |
|---|---|
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| Protection description | Dry embossed official seal applied to the left-center of the note face. |
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| Comments |
The National Bank of Greece was established by royal decree in 1841, the same year this note was authorized — making this among the earliest issues of the institution itself. Greece had only formally gained independence in 1830 after nearly four centuries of Ottoman rule, and the country's monetary infrastructure was still being assembled from scratch. The Bank's early charter gave it the exclusive right of note issue, a privilege it would hold, contested and renegotiated, for decades.
Pick 15 is exceptionally rare. The embossed seal was the sole mechanical security feature, reflecting both the printing technology available and the limited circulation network the Bank could realistically support in 1841.