Polymer bank note with face value of ROL 100,000

National Bank of Romania

07.11.01

In accordance with the provisions of Law No. 101/1998, the National Bank of Romania will put in circulation as of 12 November 2001 a polymer banknote with face value of ROL 100,000.

The banknote with ROL 100,000 face value has the following characteristics:

(1) size: 160 x 73 mm +/- 1 mm;

(2) filigree: the bust of the painter Nicolae Grigorescu and the acronym of the National Bank of Romania;

(3) the prevailing colour of the banknote: orange;

(4) background: geometrical and floral design both on obverse and reverse;

(5) transparent window with the ROL 100,000 face value imprinted within.

Obverse: the portrait of the painter Nicolae Grigorescu (1838-1907), a rose mallow, the painter's brush and palette. The face value in figures and letters, the signatures of the Governor and the Head Cashier; Romania's coat-of-arms; the name of the issuing central bank "BANCA NATIONALA A ROMANIEI"; the acronym "BNR" and the year of issue 2001 are imprinted on the obverse as well.

Reverse: a country house and the painting of Nicolae Grigorescu "Rodica", a girl's portrait. The reverse also sets out the ROL 100,000 face value in figures and letters; the name of the issuing central bank, "BANCA NATIONALA A ROMANIEI" and the acronym "BNR" in the upper right and lower left corners; the specification of the legal provision "FALSIFICAREA ACESTOR BILETE SE PEDEPSESTE CONFORM LEGII" (Counterfeiting of these bills shall be punished by law); the merged series and number of the banknote printed vertically on the left side with black ink and fonts of the same height, and horizontally on the right side with red ink and fonts of ascending height.

In order to prevent counterfeit, the banknote includes the following safety elements meant especially for the public:

(1) complex transparent window: on the left side of the obverse, the clear zone, visible from both sides with the ROL 100,000 face value imprinted within;

(2) filigree reproducing the portrait of Nicolae Grigorescu and the acronym BNR, visible only when the banknote is held against the light;

(3) the overlapping element obverse-reverse, having the shape of the painter's palette is situated underneath the name of the central bank. The overlapping occurs when the banknote is held against the light;

(4) the golden overprinted element representing the painter's palette is placed down-right;

(5) the nacreous overprint of the painter's face and of the rose mallow.

The design of this banknote is protected by registration with the State Office of Trademarks (OSIM) in Romania.

Any reproduction, whole or in part, of the banknote for publicity, information or commercial purposes may be done only with the prior written agreement of the National Bank of Romania.

Those committing or attempting to commit forgery shall be convicted to 3 to 12 year imprisonment and be deprived of certain civil rights according to Art. 282 of the Penal Code.

The banknote ROL 100,000 face value, year of issue 2001, will circulate along with the ROL 100,000 face value, year of issue 1998.