500 Drachmes 1939, Greece
| in Krause book | Number: 109a |
| Years of issue: | 01.01.1939 |
| Edition: | |
| Signatures: | Vice-Governor: Andreas Papadimitriou, Governor : Emmanuel Tsouderos |
| Serie: | No Serie |
| Specimen of: | 01.01.1939 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 170 x 84 |
| Printer: | Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company Limited, New Malden |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
Greek virgin goddess Athena.
Avers:
On left side is Greek woman in national dress.
It seemed to me that the girl’s costume is most suitable for the Athens-Megara region.
Denomination is centered.
Revers:
The goddess Athena in the oval at the top right.
Athena is the Greek virgin goddess of reason, intelligent activity, arts and literature. Athena is the daughter of Zeus. She sprang full grown in armour from his forehead, thus has no mother. She is fierce and brave in battle but, only wars to defined the state and home from outside enemies. She is the goddess of the city, handicrafts, and agriculture. She invented the bridle, which permitted man to tame horses, the trumpet, the flute, the pot, the rake, the plow, the yoke, the ship, and the chariot. She is the embodiment of wisdom, reason, and purity. She was Zeus's favorite child and was allowed to use his weapons including his thunderbolt. Her favorite city is Athens. Her tree is the olive. The owl is her bird. She is a virgin goddess.
View on Poros.
Poros (Greek: Πόρος) is a small Greek island-pair in the southern part of the Saronic Gulf, about 58 km. (36 mi.) (31 nautical miles) south from Athens' port of Piraeus and separated from the Peloponnese by a 200 m. (656 ft.) wide sea channel, with the town of Galatas on the mainland across the strait. Its surface area is about 31 square kilometres (12 sq. mi.) and it has 3,780 inhabitants. The ancient name of Poros was Pogon. Like other ports in the Saronic, it is a popular weekend destination for Athenian travellers.
Poros consists of two islands: Sphaeria (Greek: Σφαιρία), the southern part, which is of volcanic origin, where today's city is located, and Kalaureia (Greek: Καλαυρία), also Kalavria or Calauria (meaning 'gentle breeze'), the northern and largest part. A bridge connects the two islands over a narrow strait.
Poros is an island with rich vegetation. Much of the northern and far eastern/western sides of the island are bushy, whereas large areas of old pine forest are found in the south and center of the island. It has a good road network and adequate tourist infrastructure, which makes it a popular resort for short holidays. 
To the left of the center, on the mountain, the white clock tower of Poros is visible on the banknote.
Visitors to the picturesque island of Poros identify it with its landmark, the Clock Tower. This clock tower was built in 1927. It stands on the highest point of the island, and when you climb to it, the view from there is breathtaking and well worth the effort. The clock tower also attracts many photographers - it kind of connects earth, water and sky.
Comments:
If you find my work useful I will be grateful for any help in supporting the site.
-
PayPal