Greece issued this note in 1947 while the civil war between the government and communist-led ELAS forces was still grinding toward its conclusion. Inflation had been catastrophic — the 1944 hyperinflation had rendered earlier drachmai worthless at rates that required a redenomination slashing eleven zeros from the currency — and public confidence in paper money was understandably fragile even years later.
The "second issue, with date" designation distinguishes it from an earlier undated version of the same type, a small but catalogically significant difference. Printing was handled domestically at the Holargos facility, which had taken over from foreign contractors like Bradbury Wilkinson as Greece reasserted control over its own currency production in the postwar period.
Greece issued this note in 1947 while the civil war between the government and communist-led ELAS forces was still grinding toward its conclusion. Inflation had been catastrophic — the 1944 hyperinflation had rendered earlier drachmai worthless at rates that required a redenomination slashing eleven zeros from the currency — and public confidence in paper money was understandably fragile even years later.
The "second issue, with date" designation distinguishes it from an earlier undated version of the same type, a small but catalogically significant difference. Printing was handled domestically at the Holargos facility, which had taken over from foreign contractors like Bradbury Wilkinson as Greece reasserted control over its own currency production in the postwar period.