1000 drachmai 1941

Common. The eBay price tracking data demonstrates consistent market activity with multiple VF-grade examples selling between $13-64 USD in recent years, with an average price around $35-40 for VF specimens. Historical catalog values from 2008 list VF at only $10, indicating this note has never been scarce. The wide range of auction results and frequent sales activity (multiple sales per year documented) confirm broad collector availability. While military occupation notes have specialized interest, this particular denomination and issue appears in sufficient quantities to remain readily obtainable for collectors of Greek or WWII-era currency.

This banknote was issued by 'Biglietti Corso Legale per le Isole Jonie' (Legal Tender Banknotes for the Ionian Islands) during Italy's military occupation of the Greek Ionian Islands in 1941, a period following the Axis invasion of Greece. The bilingual Italian-Greek inscriptions and classical Greek design elements reflect the occupation authority's attempt to legitimize its rule by appealing to Greek cultural heritage while maintaining Italian administrative control. The allegorical classical scene on the reverse and the classical male portrait on the obverse emphasize Hellenistic themes, suggesting a propaganda effort to present the occupation as a guardian of Greek classical civilization.

The obverse features a classical male profile portrait rendered in the neoclassical style, positioned within an ornate rectangular frame adorned with Greek key (meander) patterns and shell/fan motifs typical of 19th-century classical revival design. The portrait depicts a bearded or curled-haired figure in the Hellenistic tradition, viewed from shoulder-up in right-facing profile. The reverse presents an allegorical scene with multiple robed classical figures arranged in a formal composition, likely representing Greek historical or mythological themes such as commerce, wisdom, or governance. The entire note is bordered by continuous Greek key geometric patterns, floral decorative elements, and shell motifs in the corners, creating a highly ornamental frame that emphasizes Greek classical artistic traditions. The bilingual text placement (Italian above, Greek below or alongside) underscores the occupation authority's dual-language administrative approach.

FRONT: 'BIGLIETTO A CORSO LEGALE / PER LE / ISOLE JONIE' (Legal tender banknote for the Ionian Islands); 'ΧΑΡΤΟΝΟΜΙΣΜΑ ΕΧΟΝ ΝΟΜΙΜΟΝ ΚΥΚΛΟΦΟΡΙΑΝ ΕΝ ΤΑΙΣ ΙΟΝΙΟΙΣ ΝΗΣΟΙΣ' (Banknote having legal circulation in the Ionian Islands); 'DRACME' / 'ΔΡΑΧΜΑΙ' (Drachmas); '1000' (denomination in numerical form, repeated); 'IL TESORIERE' (The Treasurer); signature line. BACK: '1000' (denomination repeated in all four corners); Serial number '0001' and '076904' visible on right margin.

Fine line engraving on banknote paper, executed with meticulous detail typical of security printing of the period. The complex geometric border designs, intricate meander patterns, and finely detailed portraiture indicate professional security printing methods. The note exhibits characteristics consistent with Italian security printers of the 1940s, likely produced under Axis occupation authorities. No specific printer attribution is definitively documented for Pick P-M17a, but the technical quality suggests establishment of a dedicated military occupation currency printing operation.

Pick catalog designates this as P-M17a, indicating the existence of at least one other major variety (P-M17 or P-M17b). The observed specimen displays serial number '076904' which appears to be from an early printing run based on the lower numerical sequence. Varieties for this issue may include different signature combinations (representing different treasurers), serial number ranges, or minor design variations typical of military occupation currency production. The handwritten treasurer signature visible on the obverse would constitute a point of variety documentation, though individual signature identification would require reference access to known signed examples.