This listing is for one 1955 50 Drachmai Bank of Greece Pericles Issue Bank Note, as pictured. Issued in Athens on March 1st, 1955. Center profile of prominent Ancient Greek figure Pericles, surrounded by an ornamental floral design. The reverse of this note portrays a scene of Pericles giving a speech to a crowd at the Pnyx in Athens. Beautiful Greek bank note that displays both modern and ancient Greek History. Great addition to any collection! P#191a (Pick Number 191a).
Pericles (c. 495–429 BCE) was a prominent Athenian statesman, orator, and general during the Golden Age of Athens. He played a crucial role in the development of Athenian democracy and the Athenian empire, making Athens a political and cultural hub of Greece. His notable achievements include the construction of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. His famous speech, the Funeral Oration, in 431 BCE is depicted on the reverse of this note. Spoken at the Pnyx in Athens, Pericles delivered this speech after the first year of the Peloponnesian War as part of the annual public funeral for the war dead. He is often referred to as the "first citizen of Athens" because of his great influence on the city and its establishment.
After Greece gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821, the government issued their first versions of paper currency in the independent nation, which displayed a Phoenix to symbolize the rebirth of Greece. In 1841 the National Bank of Greece was established, becoming the official issuing authority of paper currency until 1928. From 1928 to 2001 the Bank of Greece took over the issuance of Greek banknotes, issuing this note in 1955. The bank had to adapt to the economic fluctuations of the country after the two World Wars, with evidence of inflation from their high denominations of Drachmai notes immediately after World War II. In 2002 Greece officially changed their national currency to the Euro, demonetizing the Greek Drachmai.
This note is an extremely interesting piece of Greek history in great condition, making it a great addition to any collection!
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1955 50 Drachmai Greek Bank Note - Pericles Funeral Oration Issue - Great Condition - 1955 Fifty Drachmai Bank of Greece Paper Note - P#191a