Greece Banknotes Catalog

The history of banknotes in Greece is fascinating and reflects the country's political and economic changes over time. From their first issues to the adoption of the euro, Greek banknotes have witnessed the evolution of this Mediterranean nation.

Ancient Greek banknotes

The Greek drachma was the official currency of Greece from 1832 to 2002. During this period, various banknotes were issued with designs depicting mythological figures, national heroes and emblematic landscapes. One of the most iconic banknotes was the 1000 drachma, which showed the portrait of Apollo on the obverse and the Parthenon on the reverse. The hyperinflation of the 1940s led to the issuance of high denomination banknotes, including the 100 million drachma in 1944.

Current banknotes in circulation

Since 2002, Greece has adopted the euro as its official currency. Euro banknotes are identical in all eurozone countries, but each country issues coins with a national design on the reverse. Although there are no longer exclusively Greek banknotes, Greek euro coins feature motifs such as the owl of Athena on the €1 coin and a trireme on the €2 coin, thus maintaining a link to the country's rich history and culture.