German issued Greek currency, 5,000,000 Drachmai note

Identifier
irn524906
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2003.413.74
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • Greek
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 2.500 inches (6.35 cm) | Width: 5.500 inches (13.97 cm)

Creator(s)

Archival History

The currency was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2003 by Joel Forman.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Joel Forman

Scope and Content

German-issued Greek National currency valued at 5,000,000 Drachmai. The Greek currency, called Drachma, can be traced back to the 6th century BC. The currency was discontinued after the Roman conquest of Greece, and reissued after Greece gained independence from the Ottoman Empire. Many of the Greek notes featured figures and images from Greek Mythology. Featured on this note is Arethusa, a nymph who was loved by the water god Alpheus and changed into a spring by the goddess Artemis. On October 28, 1940, Italy invaded Greece, but they were repelled by the Greek forces. On April 6, 1941, Germany invaded Greece to support Italy and forced the Grecians to surrender by the end of the month. Germany, Italy, and Bulgaria collectively occupied Greece until Italy’s surrender to the Allies in September 1943. Then Germany occupied all of Greece, and forced the Greek government to pay for the occupation by printing more paper money with higher denominations. The excess Drachmai caused hyperinflation, and the price for goods and services rose dramatically. During the occupation, the price of corn was 9 million Drachmai per pound. The essentially worthless paper bills gave way to bartering of supplies such as olive oil, cigarettes, and wheat. Due to the invasion and the harsh economic policies, hundreds of thousands Grecians died from lack of food during the German occupation.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Greek currency printed on lightweight, off-white rectangular paper. The face has a large, centered, light green, light red and black rectangle with a border of small, undulating lines. On the left is an image of a dekadrachm of Syracuse, a coin depicting a bust of Arethusa in left profile, with three small dolphins circling her head. Behind the coin is a rectangular background with a trellis interior. To the right are several lines of black Greek text, and the numeric denomination overlaid on a light red vermiculated background. The serial number is stamped in red ink, and a numeral is in both the lower left and upper right corners. The reverse has a large, centered, light black rectangle with a scrollwork pattern and a scalloped edge. In the center, the numeric denomination is inside a scrollwork design with a background of stars and geometric shapes. Flanking the center are two quatrefoils, each with a Greek word overlaid on a numeral, against a black and white interlaced background. A line of Greek text is above and below the center.

face, top right, stamped, red ink : KK 532738

Subjects

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.