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

Press release (excerpts)

12.10.00

In accordance with the prerogatives endowed by Art. 15 and 18 of Law No. 101/1998 - the NBR Act, the National Bank of Romania will put into circulation, starting 23 October 2000, a bank note with face value of Lei 500,000 and a coin with face value of Lei 1,000.

The Lei 500,000 bank note description:

(1) size: 165x76 mm;

(2) intaglio printed (both sides) on polymer;

(3) main colours, both sides: yellow, light green, light blue and orange;

(4) background: flower motifs on the obverse and geometric motifs on the reverse.

Obverse: the front portrait of Aurel Vlaicu (1882 - 1913), Romanian engineer and inventor, pilot and aeroplane builder. Centred, an Edelweiss flower (Leontopodium alpinum) and a stylised aeroplane propeller, between the flower and the portrait. Upper, the Romanian Coat of Arms, the name of the issuing central bank "BANCA NATIONALA A ROMÂNIEI", and an inset with the NBR logo. Down, the bank note denomination in figures and letters "500.000 lei CINCI SUTE MII". Left, the authorised signatures of the Governor and Chief Cashier and the issuing year "2000". Vertically, right, the denomination "CINCI SUTE MII 500.000".

Reverse: Centre: a mountain eagle head (Aquila chrysaetos), symbolising the courage of Aurel Vlaicu and of his flight. On the left, the design of "Vlaicu II" aeroplane. Behind, the "Gnome" engine sketch. Up: the denomination value "500.000" vertically and horizontally, the name of the issuing central bank "BANCA NATIONALA A ROMÂNIEI" and the NBR logo. Down, right: the denomination value in figures and letters "CINCI SUTE MII lei 500.000"; left, a sign for visually impaired: NBR logo within a rectangle. Right from the transparent window, the penalty text, vertically: "FALSIFICAREA ACESTOR BILETE SE PEDEPSESTE CONFORM LEGILOR" (FORGERY IS PUNISHED ACCORDING TO THE LAW). Serial number black, vertically, on the left side; serial number, red, increasing characters, horizontally, on the right side.

The Lei 500,000 bank note includes the following security features for protection against counterfeiting:

(1) transparent window with embossed denomination value "500000": clear, non-printed area, visible from both sides;

(2) intaglio printing on both sides;

(3) latent image: right side, on obverse, golden area printed in white with "NBR" letters; when the note is tilted, the image of the Banesti monument appears;

(4) shadow image: the portrait of Aurel Vlaicu and the NBR logo are visible when the bank note is held up to the light;

(5) perfect register: different elements of a wind rose are printed on both sides of the bank note; when the note is held up to the light, both figures match properly.

The designs of these issues are protected by registration with OSIM (Romanian National Office for Trademarks).

Any colour reproduction, in whole or in part, for commercial purposes, for information or any other licit action must be done with the previous written permission of the National Bank of Romania.

Forgery or attempted forgery shall be punished, according to the Romanian Criminal Code, Art. 282, with 3 to 12 years in jail.