50 GRD #219

Front

Poseidon, ancient Greek god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses, depicted in classical sculptural style with flowing beard and trident. One of the twelve Olympian deities of the Greek pantheon, Poseidon was among the most powerful gods in Greek mythology and a central figure in Greek religion and culture. He appears frequently on Greek currency as a symbol of the nation's maritime heritage and classical legacy. The note includes classical Greek figures in a frieze at lower right, representing ancient Hellenic civilization.

Back

Laskarina Bouboulina (1771–1825), Greek naval commander and heroine of the Greek War of Independence. She was one of the most prominent figures in the Greek revolution against Ottoman rule, commanding her own fleet of ships including the warship Agamemnon. A wealthy widow who devoted her fortune and life to the independence struggle, she participated in the naval blockade of Nafplion and is celebrated as one of the first female admirals in history. The reverse depicts her in traditional Greek costume alongside a sailing ship, symbolizing her naval command during the 1821 revolution.

History

Part of the 1978 drachma series issued by the Bank of Greece, which featured mythological figures on the obverse and historical personalities on the reverse. This series remained in circulation until Greece adopted the euro in 2002, when the drachma was withdrawn. The 50 drachma note was one of the lower denominations and saw widespread everyday use. Date printed: Athens, 8 December 1978 (EN ΑΘΗΝΑΙΣ ΤΗ 8Η ΔΕΚΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ 1978). The design reflects Greece's dual identity, celebrating both its ancient classical heritage through Poseidon and its modern national identity through the figure of Bouboulina, a key independence heroine.