Drachma, silver coin of ancient Greece, dating from about the mid-6th century bc, and the former monetary unit of modern Greece. The drachma was one of the world's earliest coins. Its name derives from the Greek verb meaning “to grasp,” and its original value was equivalent to that of a handful of arrows.

How long was the drachma used?

The drachma was Greece's national currency from 1833 to 1 January 2002, when euro banknotes and coins were put into circulation in Greece, at the same time as in the other euro area countries.

When was drachma stopped?

In 2002 the drachma ceased to be legal tender after the euro, the monetary unit of the European Union, became Greece's sole currency.