500 Drachmai

The National Bank of Greece turned to the American Bank Note Company for this series at a time when ABNCo was the dominant supplier of intaglio-printed currency to governments that lacked domestic printing infrastructure of comparable quality. Greece had been using foreign printers since independence, and the relationship with New York-based security printers was well established by the 1870s.

The 500 Drachmai was the highest denomination in general circulation for much of this period — a substantial sum against Greek wage levels of the time, meaning these notes moved through commercial and banking channels rather than retail trade. Heavy wear on surviving examples is consequently rare; mishandling by institutions was another matter.

The issue span of fourteen years reflects the NBG's conservative approach to reissue, not a printing run of that duration.