It is estimated that some 650 million drachma-denominated banknotes and 7,000 tonnes of drachma coins, of a total value of 3 trillion drachmas, will have to be withdrawn in Greece. Owing to the shorter time available for production, some of the needs inevitably had to be met by importing banknotes and coins from printing works abroad.
We have been conscious also that, with the sharp fall in the exchange rate which has taken place, import prices may be pushed up, with a risk that this might spill over into more generalised inflationary pressures.