The Kingdom of Greece existed 1832-1924 and was re-established 1935-1973. The Cretan State existed from 1898 until its formal annexation to the Greece in 1913.

The Otto I drachma were had less metal content than francs (silver drachma at 4.5 grams of 0.9 fine, not 5 grams of 0.9 fine; gold 20 drachmai at 5.8 grams of .9 fine, not 6.45 grams of 0.9 fine), but maintained the French silver to gold ratio of 15.5.

Greece formally joined the LMU in 1868 and the weights of the drachma under George I were changed to match that standard. Coinage of the Cretan State also reflect King George I on the obverse. All George I coins were minted in Paris.

After WWI, the drachma coinage was reintroduced at a debased metal content (10 drachma at 7 grams of 5 fine), a reduction in the silver content of about 90%. However, in the 1940s a non-circulating gold 20 drachmai was minted to the LMU standard.

Circulation Coins

Note: The 1876 20 Drachmai is included here because, while it is listed on Numista as “Non-Circulating,” the mintage of 37k is higher than several circulating LMU-type coins (Naples, Venice, Lombardy, Parma, others)

Kingdom of Greece

20 Drachmai

1876
(Image: Myntauktioner i Sverige Sep 2018)