2 Lei - Carol I Obverse Trial

Pattern strikes for Romanian coinage in this period were typically produced in Paris at the Monnaie de Paris, which held the contract for Romanian coin production through much of Carol I's reign. Aluminium trials of this denomination were exploratory — the metal was being assessed across several European mints in the early twentieth century as silver prices climbed, though Romania ultimately retained silver for the circulating 2 Lei through the prewar years.

KM#Pn174 is catalogued as a unique or near-unique piece. Carol I died in 1914, making any late pattern from his reign a terminal specimen in the series.