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Year published (Greek, English): 2016
Year published (French / German / Russian): 2017

Greek Banknotes. Historical Evidence

The publication Greek Banknotes. Historical Evidence is the catalogue of the permanent exhibition of the Banknote Museum in Corfu. It presents a timeline of the most significant moments in Greek history directly relating to paper money circulation. It spans 180 years of history and contains images of the banknotes showcased at the Museum.

Publication details
  • Author: Dimitra Tsangari
  • Language: Greek, English, French, German, Russian
  • Year published: Greek, English: 2016 - French, German, Russian: 2017

What the publication includes

The publication presents the paper money that circulated throughout the history of the modern Greek State: banknotes, coin notes and related material. It contains 72 images, mostly of banknotes showcased at the museum. The publication spans 180 years of Greek history.

The presentation is in the form of a timeline starting in 1821 and ending in 2002, with the introduction of the euro.

The catalogue of a major exhibition

The publication is the catalogue of the permanent exhibition at the Banknote Museum of the Ionian Bank in Corfu. The exhibition is open to the general public.

Modern history through banknotes

The publication outlines the most significant moments in Greek history relating to paper money circulation.

The introduction includes a brief presentation of the building housing the Banknote Museum. The history of Greek banknotes is presented in chronological order:

  • Coins of the modern Greek State – The publication presents the revolutionary bonds in piastres issued by the provisional Greek government and the phoenix, the first coin of independent Greece issued by Ioannis Kapodistrias.
  • Significant banking institutions – The publication includes short historical accounts on the 5 banks with issuing privilege, that is the privilege to issue banknotes: National Bank of Greece, Ionian Bank, Bank of Epirus and Thessaly, Bank of Crete, and Bank of Greece.
  • Other milestones – The publication looks at significant moments in modern Greek history through the lens of the banknotes in circulation, including WWI, the Asia Minor Catastrophe and WWII. It also includes the inflationary banknotes that circulated during the German Occupation.
  • Drachma – End of an era – The chronological presentation ends with all the banknotes in drachmas that circulated prior to the adoption of the euro.

Author: Dimitra Tsangari
Publisher: Alpha Bank
Place and time: Athens, 2016 (Greek / English) and 2017 (French / German / Russian)
Dimensions: 30 x 21 cm
Pages: 38
Cover type: Paperback
Greek ISBN: 978-618-5072-18-6
English ISBN: 978-618-5072-20-9
French ISBN: 978-618-5072-29-2
German ISBN: 978-618-5072-28-5
Russian ISBN: 978-618-5072-30-8