Crete Banknotes Catalog

Valuable and popular banknotes

The most valuable Crete banknotes sought after by collectors are the following:

Historical information

The history of banknotes in Crete is fascinating and reflects the political and economic changes of the island over time. From their first issues to the present day, Cretan banknotes have undergone various transformations, adapting to the different historical stages of the region.

Old banknotes of Crete

The first Cretan banknotes date back to the end of the 19th century, during the island's period of autonomy under the Ottoman Empire. In 1898, the Bank of Crete issued the first series of banknotes denominated in drachmas. These banknotes featured elaborate designs with mythological motifs and local landscapes. After unification with Greece in 1913, Crete adopted the Greek drachma as its official currency, using banknotes issued by the Bank of Greece.

Current banknotes in circulation

Today, Crete, as part of Greece and the European Union, uses the euro as its official currency. The banknotes in circulation are the same as in the rest of the Eurozone, with seven denominations ranging from €5 to €500. These banknotes feature common designs on the obverse, with doors and windows symbolizing European openness and cooperation, while the reverse shows bridges representing the connection between member countries. Although the euro banknotes do not have designs specific to Crete, the island has maintained its rich numismatic heritage through commemorative coin issues.

Crete is a country that does not exist.This country is currently part of the old banknotes of Greece.