Greek lepton

Lepton, plural Lepta (from gr λεπτός leptos "light", "fine" ) in late antiquity was the name of the ancient Greek language for the coins, ie the smallest, are not covered by their material value of the coins coinage system. During the time of the Roman Empire several small coins were so called in the eastern part of the empire, mostly copper coins. The term is also found in the New Testament parable of the poor widow again (Luke 21.2 EU). Martin Luther translated it with " mite " into German.

Currency unit in modern Greece

The term lepton ( Katharevousa ) or leptons ( Dimotiki ) was also used for the small unit of currency of the new Greek state in 1828. 100 Lepta were initially a phoenix, after 1832 then a drachma.

Coins with values ​​less than a drachma were minted until 1986, but were due to their low value in the last three decades before the changeover to the euro ( 2002) barely or no longer in use ( in the then exchange rate had an old lepto the value of 0.0029 euro cents). The term ta lepta but was preserved in the vernacular as a general term for "money". In addition, the word has the meaning " minute".

With the introduction of the euro and the associated re-introduction of a small unit of currency, the old name of the coins was taken up again: The Euro Cent called in Greek, Modern leptons ( λεπτό ), plural Lepta ( λεπτά ). The Greek euro coins with values ​​from 1 to 50 cents are marked with this inscription.

• Coin
• Currency subunit