100 Lei 120th Anniversary of the Romania's Independence

Romania declared independence from the Ottoman Empire on May 9, 1877, a date recognized domestically well before the Treaty of Berlin formally acknowledged it in 1878. The centennial in 1977 passed without fanfare under Ceaușescu — numismatic commemoration of nationalist milestones was selectively deployed by the regime — making the 120th anniversary issue in 1998 something of a belated reckoning, the first post-communist opportunity to mark the event without ideological interference.