The 5,000 drachmai of 1943 is an occupation note of the Bank of Greece that gathers a true anthology of ancient sculpture. The front shows a portrait of Athena and the ancient relief «Cattle led to sacrifice», kept in the British Museum.

The back shows two young horsemen from the west frieze of the Parthenon.

Such notes are direct witnesses of the occupation hyperinflation: the Bank of Greece records that, because of «galloping inflation», huge denominations were printed during the war by various lithographers in the country, the last one, of 100 billion drachmas, on 5 November 1944. A few days later a law set one new drachma equal to 50 billion old ones.

For a «Parthenon on money» theme this is one of the best pieces, and in a Greece collection it opens the large values of 1943, the step before the million-drachma notes of 1944. UNC condition means the note has never circulated: no folds, no wear, no soiling, even corners — just as it left the press.

If this theme interests you, take a look at the other items in the VPcoins catalogue.