Catalog
10 000 Leva
| Issuer | Bulgarska Narodna Banka (Bulgarian National Bank) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1919 |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Obverse description | A срочен касов бон (short-term cash voucher) issued by the Bulgarska Narodna Banka, dated Sofia, 25 октомври 1919 год., with the denomination Лева 10,000 printed in the upper right corner. The central text in Cyrillic script states the bank's obligation to pay the bearer десет хиляди лева в банкноти, with validity noted until 31 декември 1919 година. Three signature lines for Контрольор, Управител, and Касиер appear at the bottom, set against a fine rose-pink guilloche underprint with a decorative border. |
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| Obverse lettering | София, 25 октомври 1919 год. Лева 10.000 А. № 01563 СРОЧЕНЪ КАСОВЪ БОНЪ Българската Народна Банна ще заплати на прѣдявителя на тоя срочен касов бон ЛЕВА десеть хиляди въ банкноти. Тоя бонъ важи до тридесеть първи декември 1919 година. Контрольор: Управитель: Касиер: |
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| Comments |
Bulgaria emerged from the First World War on the losing side, burdened by reparations under the Treaty of Neuilly and a currency in steep decline. The high denomination of this note is a direct consequence — wartime inflation had eroded the lev's purchasing power to the point where five-figure notes became a practical necessity for ordinary commerce.
The P#26 series exists in multiple signature varieties, of which 26E is among the less frequently encountered. Signature combinations on Bulgarian notes of this period reflect rapid turnover in bank leadership during a politically unstable stretch that included two changes of government between 1918 and 1920.