RON – Romanian Leu
Monetary System
22.04.1867: 1 Romanian leu = 100 bani
15.08.1947: 1 “new” Romanian leu = 20,000 “old” lei
28.01.1952: 1 “new” Romanian leu (ROL) = 20 – 400 “old” lei
01.07.2005: 1 Romanian leu (RON) = 10,000 leu (ROL)
Ministry of Finance
Ministerul de Finanțe
In the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, Romania fought on the Russian side against the Ottoman Empire. Following its victory, Romania was recognized as an independent state by the Treaty of San Stefano and the Treaty of Berlin.
To pay for the costs of war, a law promulgated on 10 June 1877 authorized Romania’s Ministerul de Finanțe (Romanian: Ministry of Finance, FIN) to issue up to 30 million lei’s worth of bilet hypothecar (mortgage notes) backed by state property. While technically not banknotes, they circulated as such.
2021 Issue
This 20-leu note commemorates Ecaterinei Teodoroiu, a heroine of Romania who fought and died in World War I. It was introduced on 1 December 2021, when the country celebrates its national day. It is the first legal tender Romanian banknote which features a female personality.
Description: 20.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 136 x 77 mm
Olive green. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; bugle and Military Virtue medal; infantry weapon insignia as registration device; crocus flowers (Crocus flavus); BNR monogram; badge of the Romanian Scouts Association; Catherine Teodoroiu wearing uniform; fleur-de-lis. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; winged Victory holding sword, from Victory Medal; Mausoleum of MarA6e6ti; fleur-de-lis; infantry weapon insignia; bugle and Military Virtue medal; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark (shadow image): Ecaterina Teodoroiu; BNR monogram. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- and Sicherheitsdruckerei). 136 x 77 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
2021 Numismatic Products
This 20-leu note is a polymer replica of the first 20-leu paper banknote issued by the National Bank of Romania in 1881. 30,000 notes were sold in folders for 100 lei each.
Description: 20.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 166 x 96 mm
Cobalt blue. Front Romanian text; oak leaves and olive branches; coat of arms; seated allegorical child holding hammer, with screw press and cog; seated allegorical child holding caduceus, with beehive; oak leaves and olive branches; coat of arms; head of Trajan. Back: Romanian text; head of Trajan; penal code; Emperor Trajan. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (Unknown). 166 x 96 mm. Polymer.
2018 (2018 – 2020) Crowned Eagle Issues
On 8 June 2016, the Romanian parliament adopted a draft law which restores the crown on the head of the gold eagle in the country’s coat of arms. Pursuant to the provisions of Articles 14 and 17 of Law No. 312/2004 on the Statute of the National Bank of Romania and of Law No. 146/2016 amending Law No. 102/1992 on the country’s coat of arms and seal, existing banknotes continued to circulate in parallel with new notes and coins until 31 December 2018. Beginning 1 January 2018, Banca Naţională a României began issuing revised notes like the preceding issues, but with the new coat of arms and a new date.
Description: 1.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 120 x 62 mm
Green, blue, and yellow. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; flower as registration device; gentian flowers (Gentiana asclepiadaea); BNR monogram; Nicolae Iorga. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; Crusader eagle with cross in beak, from Vallachian coat of arms during reign of Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu; Romanian Orthodox cathedral in Curtea de Argeș; flower; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark (shadow image): Nicolae Iorga; BNR monogram. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruckerei). 120 x 62 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
Description: 5.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 127 x 67 mm
Purple, violet, blue, brown, and orange. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; lyre as registration device; musical score in underprint; carnation flower (Dianthus dianthus); two musical notes; BNR monogram; violin; George Enescu. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; musical notes in underprint; Romanian Athenaeum concert hall in Bucharest; musical score from King Oedip opera; piano; lyre; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark (shadow image): George Enescu; BNR monogram. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruckerei). 127 x 67 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
Description: 10.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 133 x 72 mm
Orange, purple, red, brown, and yellow. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; artist’s palette as registration device; flowers in underprint; hollyhock flowers (Althea officinalis); BNR monogram; artist’s palette and brush; Nicolae Grigorescu; artist’s palette in gold OVI. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; flowers in underprint; young peasant girl carrying vessal on shoulder from “Rodica, the Water Carrier” painting by Nicolae Grigorescu; traditional village house in Province of Oltenia; artist’s palette; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark (shadow image): Nicolae Grigorescu; BNR monogram. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruckerei). 133 x 72 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
Description: 50.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 140 x 77 mm
Yellow, green, blue, and orange. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; edelweiss flower (Leontopodium alpinum); starburst as registration device; BNR monogram; airplane propeller; Aurel Vlaicu; head of mountain eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) in gold OVI. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; Vlaicu II airplane; motor; head of mountain eagle (Aquila chrysaetos); starburst; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark (shadow image): BNR monogram; Aurel Vlaicu. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruckerei). 140 x 77 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
Description: 100.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 147 x 82 mm
Blue, green, and violet. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; theater mask; violet flower (Viola sororia); flower as registration device; comedy mask; BNR monogram; Ion Luca Caragiale. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; Constantin Baraschi’s statue of Ion Luca Caragiale on Maria Rosetti Street in Bucharest; original Teatrul cel Mare din Bucureşti (Grand Theatre of Bucharest) building; flower; comedy mask; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: Ion Luca Caragiale; BNR monogram. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruckerei). 147 x 82 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
Description: 200.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 150 x 82 mm
Orange, green, red, blue, yellow, and violet. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; open book with page from poems Self-portrait and 9 May 1895; inkwell as registration device; poppy flowers; BNR monogram; Lucian Blaga. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; neolithic statue of the Thinker of Hamangia; rainbow; water mill with BNR latent image; sessile oak tree; inkwell; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: Lucian Blaga; BNR monogram. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruckerei). 150 x 82 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
2019 Numismatic Products
This 100-leu note commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Completion of the Great Union. 30,000 notes were sold in folders for 150 lei each.
Description: 100.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 147 x 82 mm
Blue, yellow, purple, and green. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; interior of Romanian Athenaeum; stylized Athenaeum skylight as registration device; front of Order of Carol I medal; BNR monogram; Ion I.C. Brătianu. Back: Romanian text; former palace of the Assembly of Deputies of the Romanian Parliament (now the Patriarchate Palace); back of Order of Carol I medal; stylized Athenaeum skylight; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread with demetalized ROMÂNIA 100. Watermark (shadow image): Fragment of the Order of Carol I medal and BNR monogram. Printer: (Note Printing Australia). 147 x 82 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
2018 Numismatic Products
This 100-leu note commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Great Union. 10,000 notes were sold in folders for 150 lei each.
Description: 100.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 147 x 82 mm
Blue, orange, and yellow. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; crowd with flags at Great National Assembly in Alba Iulia; BNR monogram; Queen Maria and King Ferdinand I. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; arrival of royal cortege in Bucharest on 1 December 1918; four women in folk costumes typical of each united Romanian province: Bessarabia, Romania, Transylvania, and Bukovina; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark (shadow image): BNR monogram. Printer: (Note Printing Australia). 147 x 82 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
2005 – 2008 (2005 – 2017) Polymer Issues
On 1 July 2005 (appears vertically at right front of all notes), Romania revalued its currency at a rate of 1 “new” leu to 10,000 “old” lei, although the name of the currency did not change on the notes, which were also reduced in size. The notes all have pearlescent stripes on back with horizontal denomination numerals repeated in a vertical pattern.
Description: 1.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 120 x 62 mm
Green, blue, and yellow. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; flower as registration device; gentian flowers (Gentiana asclepiadaea); BNR monogram; Nicolae Iorga. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; Crusader eagle with cross in beak, from Vallachian coat of arms during reign of Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu; Romanian Orthodox cathedral in Curtea de Argeș; flower; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark (shadow image): Nicolae Iorga; BNR monogram. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruckerei). 120 x 62 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
Description: 5.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 127 x 67 mm
Purple, violet, blue, brown, and orange. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; lyre as registration device; musical score in underprint; carnation flower (Dianthus dianthus); two musical notes; BNR monogram; violin; George Enescu. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; musical notes in underprint; Romanian Athenaeum concert hall in Bucharest; musical score from King Oedip opera; piano; lyre; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark (shadow image): George Enescu; BNR monogram. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruckerei). 127 x 67 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
Description: 10.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 133 x 72 mm
Orange, purple, red, brown, and yellow. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; artist’s palette as registration device; flowers in underprint; hollyhock flowers (Althea officinalis); BNR monogram; artist’s palette and brush; Nicolae Grigorescu; artist’s palette in gold OVI. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; flowers in underprint; young peasant girl carrying vessal on shoulder from “Rodica, the Water Carrier” painting by Nicolae Grigorescu; traditional village house in Province of Oltenia; artist’s palette; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark (shadow image): Nicolae Grigorescu; BNR monogram. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruckerei). 133 x 72 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
Description: 10.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 133 x 72 mm
Orange, purple, red, brown, and yellow. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; artist’s palette as registration device; flowers in underprint; hollyhock flowers (Althea officinalis); BNR monogram; artist’s palette and brush; Nicolae Grigorescu; artist’s palette in gold OVI. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; flowers in underprint; young peasant girl carrying vessal on shoulder from “Rodica, the Water Carrier” painting by Nicolae Grigorescu; traditional village house in Province of Oltenia; artist’s palette; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark (shadow image): Nicolae Grigorescu; BNR monogram. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruckerei). 133 x 72 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
This lithographed note is like the preceding intaglio issue, but the color of the bank’s logo is purple instead of red, there are two golden brushes in the window instead of an embossed 10, and the note no longer has a latent image nor two-tone lei digits.
Description: 50.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 140 x 77 mm
Yellow, green, blue, and orange. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; edelweiss flower (Leontopodium alpinum); starburst as registration device; BNR monogram; airplane propeller; Aurel Vlaicu; head of mountain eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) in gold OVI. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; Vlaicu II airplane; motor; head of mountain eagle (Aquila chrysaetos); starburst; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark (shadow image): BNR monogram; Aurel Vlaicu. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruckerei). 140 x 77 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
Description: 100.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 147 x 82 mm
Blue, green, and violet. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; theater mask; violet flower (Viola sororia); flower as registration device; comedy mask; BNR monogram; Ion Luca Caragiale. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; Constantin Baraschi’s statue of Ion Luca Caragiale on Maria Rosetti Street in Bucharest; original Teatrul cel Mare din Bucureşti (Grand Theatre of Bucharest) building; flower; comedy mask; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: Ion Luca Caragiale; BNR monogram. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruckerei). 147 x 82 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
Description: 200.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 150 x 82 mm
Orange, green, red, blue, yellow, and violet. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; open book with page from poems Self-portrait and 9 May 1895; inkwell as registration device; poppy flowers; BNR monogram; Lucian Blaga. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; neolithic statue of the Thinker of Hamangia; rainbow; water mill with BNR latent image; sessile oak tree; inkwell; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: Lucian Blaga; BNR monogram. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruckerei). 150 x 82 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
Description: 500.00 RON – Romanian New Leu Size: 153 x 82 mm
Blue, violet, green, orange, and yellow. Front: Romanian text; coat of arms; quill as registration device; inkwell, quill, lime leaves and flowers (Tilia platyphyllos); hourglass in OVI; BNR monogram; Mihai Eminescu. Back: Romanian text; BNR monogram; page from Timpul newspaper; Iaşi Unversity Library in Iasi; quill; BNR monogram. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: Mihai Eminescu; BNR monogram. Printer: (Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruckerei). 153 x 82 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
Extras
• Romania joined the European Union on 1 January 2007 and was expected to adopt the euro in 2015. As of early-2020, this has not taken place.
• According to a press release dated 31 July 2019, the National Bank of Romania plans to introduce a 20-leu note in 2020 depicting Ecaterinei Teodoroiu.
