Country overview

Polymer overview

General information

Romania is the third country in the word to fully convert to polymer notes. As of 14.12.01, all four denominations (10,000 Lei, 50,000 Lei, 100,000 Lei, and 500,000 Lei) in circulation were plastic, eventhough paper bank notes, including denominations lower than 10,000 Lei, still circulated and were being withdrawn as 5,000 Lei coin had been introduced in December 2001 (the 5,000 Lei paper bank note ceased to be legal tender on 30.06.02). As of 01.07.05, Romania is also the first country in the world to issue a complete second set of polymer notes.

Introduction of new bank notes in Romania

By Mugur Constantin Isărescu, BNR Governor.

National Bank of Romania

Banca Naţională a României (limba română)

National Bank of Romania Annual reports: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005.

Proof notes / Romania

Newspaper article: The money maker

Redenomination of Romanian polymer bank notes

On 01.07.05, the Romanian Leu has been redenominated so that 10.000 old Lei, in circulation at that date, has been replaced by 1 new Leu, according to the Law No. 348 of 14.07.04 regarding the national currency denomination, published in the Official Gazette, No. 664 of 23.07.04. Starting 01.07.05, the National Bank of Romania has been issuing the new bank notes and coins.

The Law stipulated that in the period subsequent to the introduction of the new monetary issue until 31.12.06, the bank notes and coins in circulation before 01.07.05 will be gradually replaced by the bank notes and coins of the NBR's new monetary issue. Also, starting 01.03.05 until 30.06.06, the new prices and tariffs of goods and services will be displayed both in the old and the new denomination, while the amount stipulated in the utility suppliers' contracts in progress on 01.03.05, and the invoices regarding utilities payments will be notified to the parties, both in the old and the new denomination.

BNR: Redenomination of domestic currency

BNR: The new Leu—everything becomes simpler

Law on the redenomination of domestic currency

Newspaper article: Government to redenominate currency

Newspaper article: Romanian MPs give green light to Leu redenomination

Bank notes

Offset printing.

Romania, 2,000 Lei, issued in 1999. Issued on the occasion of the total Solar eclipse on August 11, 1999, which was best visible from the territory of Romania. The denomination of 2,000 Lei also symbolizes the then-approaching year 2000. This is the first Guardian® polymer bank note issued in Europe. Front: A depiction of our Solar system with the sun and the nine planets. Romanian Coat of Arms at top left. National Bank of Romania’s logo at top centre. Back: A map of Romania in Romanian flag colors (blue, yellow, and red) and the depiction of the area where the Solar eclipse was best visible.

On the withdrawal of 2,000 Lei bank note

S2R1 issued on 18.09.00. Offset printing. S2R2 issued in 2001.

Polymer substrate for production of S2R2 bank notes has been delivered to RAIBNR in 2001.

Romania, 10,000 Lei, issued in 2000. Front: Portrait of Nicolae Iorga (1871-1940), Romanian writer, historian journalist, and politician. A monumental personality of the Romanian culture, gifted with an extraordinary memory; a president of the National Assembly and a Prime Minister of Romania. Murdered in the 1940 by the Romanian nationalistic and anti-Semitic group the Iron Guard. Gentian flowers in centre. Back: Episcopal Cathedral of Curtea de Argeş monastery, erected by Neagoe Basarab in the early 16th century. Crusader eagle of the ancient Vallachian Coat of Arms, used in the late 17th and early 18th century, at left.

National Bank of Romania's description of 10,000 Lei bank note (S2)

Regarding the withdrawal of the Lei 10,000 bank note (issuing year 1994) and the new redesigned polymer-based issue

Nicolae Iorga (1871-1940)

Issued on 12.11.01. Offset printing. Polymer substrate for the production of S4 bank notes has been delivered to OeBS in 2001 and to RAIBNR in 2002.

Romania, 100,000 Lei, issued in 2001. Front: Portrait of Nicolae Grigorescu (1838-1907), a painter. The greatest of the Romanian painters, an undisputed classic, a painter of mountain and hill regions, of the plain and the sea, of the earth-tillers, young and old, whom he regards with sympathy and portrays as proud, brave, dignified soldiers in battle and as diligent working people. Hollyhock flower, an artist's palette and paintbrush in centre. Back: A country house in centre. Nicolae Grigorescu's painting 'Rodica', representing a country girl at left. This painting, like many others, exhibits the artist's sympathy for the common people.

National Bank of Romania's description of 100,000 Lei bank note (S4)

Polymer bank note with face value of ROL 100,000

Nicolae Grigorescu (1837-1907)

S5R1 issued on 23.10.00. Intaglio printing on both sides.

Romania, 500,000 Lei, issued in 2000. Front: Portrait of Aurel Vlaicu (1882-1913), Romanian engineer, inventor, pilot, airplane builder, and winner of international flight awards. In 1913, he finished 'Vlaicu III', the first all-metal aeroplane in the world. He died in the same year, flying his own aeroplane 'Vlaicu II' over the Carpathian mountains. A mountain flower edelweiss and an airplane propeller in centre. A TIDE (Transparent Intaglio Disappearing Effect) security feature, visible when the note is tilted, at right. Back: Mountain eagle head in centre right. 'Vlaicu II' airplane design and 'Gnome' engine sketch at left.

National Bank of Romania's description of 500,000 Lei bank note (S5)

On the issue of Lei 500,000 bank note and the Lei 1,000 coin

Aurel Vlaicu (1882-1913)

Issued on 05.12.03. Intaglio printing on both sides.

Romania, 1,000,000 Lei, issued in 2003. This bank note has laser-made microperforations or tiny holes in the bank note, which spell 1,000,000 when the note is viewed towards the source of light. Front: Portrait of Ion Luca Caragiale (1852-1912), Romanian playwright, author and short-story writer. His home village is today named after him. Comedy masks and a violet flower in the centre. Violet is also the predominant color of the bank note. Back: Old building of the National Theatre in Bucharest, where Caragiale was a General Director for a short time. Caragiale's statue at left, tragedy mask at right.

National Bank of Romania's description of 1,000,000 Lei bank note (S6)

Press release on bank notes (withdrawal and new issue)

Ion Luca Caragiale (1852-1912)

Offset printing. Issued on 01.07.05.

Romania, 1 Leu, issued in 2005. Front: Portrait of Nicolae Iorga (1871-1940), Romanian writer, historian journalist, and politician. A monumental personality of the Romanian culture, gifted with an extraordinary memory; a president of the National Assembly and a Prime Minister of Romania. Murdered in the 1940 by the Romanian nationalistic and anti-Semitic group the Iron Guard. Gentian flowers in centre. Back: Episcopal Cathedral of Curtea de Argeş monastery, erected by Neagoe Basarab in the early 16th century. Crusader eagle of the ancient Vallachian Coat of Arms, used in the late 17th and early 18th century at left and in the clear window.

Nicolae Iorga (1871-1940)

Offset printing. Issued on 01.07.05.

Romania, 5 Lei, issued in 2005. A musical instrument lira as the perfect registration security feature. Two musical notes in the complex clear window. Front: Portrait of the composer George Enescu (1881-1955). Composer, pianist, and violinist of world renown; professor of music in Paris, Vienna, and the USA; creator of suites, chamber music, and operas. Carnation flower, two musical notes, and a violin in centre. Romanian coat of arms at top left. Back: "Romanian Athenaeum" concert hall at left. A fragment of the score of the Enescu's opera "King Oedipus" above. A musician's piano at centre right.

George Enescu (1881-1955)

Intaglio printing. Issued on 01.07.05.

Romania, 10 Lei, issued in 2005. Front: Portrait of Nicolae Grigorescu (1838-1907), a painter. The greatest of the Romanian painters, an undisputed classic, a painter of mountain and hill regions, of the plain and the sea, of the earth-tillers, young and old, whom he regards with sympathy and portrays as proud, brave, dignified soldiers in battle and as diligent working people. Hollyhock flower, an artist's palette and paintbrush in centre. Back: A country house in centre. Nicolae Grigorescu's painting "Rodica", representing a country girl at left. This painting, like many others, exhibits the artist's sympathy for the common people.

Nicolae Grigorescu (1837-1907)