Extraordinary and early bill of exchange issued by the National Bank of Greece (Εθνική Τράπεζα της Ελλάδος), dated November 23, 1857 in Athens, and made payable to the famous Sina Brothers (Sina Frères) in Vienna, one of the most influential banking families in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and benefactors of modern Greece.
📜 Document Highlights:
Issuer: National Bank of Greece
Location: Athens, 1857
Value: 1,750 Drachmas (δραχμές)
Bilingual structure: primarily French with Greek inscriptionsl; Signed by the members of the Managing Counsel of the National Bank
Route: Athens → Trieste → Vienna
Features multiple stamps: Trieste agent cancellation, Greek and Austrian validation marks;
Beautiful vignette of Athena and classical ruins alongside a lion and the Greek arms
🗂 Condition:
Well-preserved considering age; some expected horizontal and vertical folds
Light staining on upper edge, excellent visual clarity of inks, seals, and handwriting
Strong aesthetic appeal with fine engraving detail
🏛 An extremely scarce piece of pre-1870 Greek financial history, combining philhellenic symbolism, Austro-Greek banking connections, and early international trade documentation.
Perfect for collectors of:
Greek banking ephemera
European bills of exchange
Sina family / Philhellenism
Historic Trieste-Vienna trade routes
