10 Lei

Moldova's first banknote series was rushed into production following the declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, with the leu introduced in November 1993 to replace the Soviet ruble — but these notes were printed in 1992 in anticipation, sitting in reserve until the currency changeover was ready. The transition was unusually compressed: Moldova had no central banking infrastructure of its own, and Leonid Talmaci, whose signature appears here, had been appointed governor of a newly created institution that was still finding its legal footing.

Printed by the Canadian Bank Note Company in Ottawa.