Lepton (coin)
Lepton , plural Lepta (from Gr. Λεπτός leptos "light", "fine") was the name of the ancient Greek language for the divisional coins , i.e. the smallest coins of the coin system that are not covered by their material value. During the time of the Roman Empire, various small coins were called this in the eastern part of the empire, mostly copper coins. The New Testament mentions the coin in connection with the donation of the poor widow at the Jerusalem Temple ( Mk 12.42 EU ) and ( Lk 21.2 EU ). Martin Luther translated it as “ mite ”.
Monetary unit in modern Greece
The term Lepton ( Katharevousa ) or Lepto ( Dimotiki ) was also used for the small currency unit of the new Greek state from 1828. 100 Lepta were initially a phoenix , then after 1832 a drachma . The five-pound coins minted since 1869 bore the additional inscription "ΟΒΟΛΟΣ" ( obolus ) and the ten-pound coins "ΔΙΩΒΟΛΟΝ" (two obolon). As with the nominal term “drachma”, this was a connection to ancient traditions.
Coins with values less than one drachma were minted until 1986, but due to their low value in the last three decades before the currency changeover to the euro (2002), they were hardly or no longer in use (in the exchange rate at that time, an old lepto had the value of 0.0029 euro cents). The term ta lepta , however, was used in everyday language as a general term for “money”. In addition, the word in modern Greek has the meaning "minute".
With the introduction of the euro and the associated reintroduction of a small currency unit, the old denomination of the coins was taken up again: the euro cent is called Lepto (λεπτό) in modern Greek , plural Lepta (λεπτά). The Greek euro coins with values from 1 to 50 cents are minted with this inscription.
Individual evidence
- ^ Günter Schön / Jean-Francois Cartier, 19th century world coin catalog, Greece No. 38 and 39