Catalog
100 Lei Petru Rares
| Issuer | National Bank of Moldova |
|---|---|
| Year | 2007 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | REPUBLICA - 2007 - MOLDOVA 100 LEI |
| Reverse description | A facing bust of Petru Rareș, Prince of Moldavia, occupies the centre of the field, rendered in a medieval portrait style inspired by contemporary iconography. The prince is depicted wearing an ornate jewelled crown with pointed finials and richly embroidered robes with a beaded collar. To the left of the bust appear the dates 1527 and 2007, commemorating the 480th anniversary of his accession to the throne. A depiction of a medieval fortress or citadel appears in the lower right field. The legend PETRU RAREȘ arcs along the lower periphery in Gothic-style lettering, all in high-relief proof finish against mirrored fields. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
Petru Rareș ruled Moldavia twice — 1527 to 1538, then 1541 to 1546 — an unusual double reign made possible by Ottoman political maneuvering after his first expulsion. His first term ended when Suleiman the Magnificent marched through Moldavia personally, forcing Rareș to flee into Transylvania. The Ottomans installed a puppet, then later permitted Rareș to return, having calculated his usefulness as a buffer against Habsburg expansion.
This National Bank of Moldova commemorative belongs to a series reclaiming medieval Moldavian rulers as founding figures of Moldovan national identity — a project with obvious political weight given ongoing tensions over the relationship between Moldova and Romania.