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20 Lei 140 years from the first issue of a 20 Lei banknote by NBR
| Issuer | National Bank of Romania (Banca Națională a României) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2021 |
| Type | Replica banknote |
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| Obverse description | Two transparent polymer windows at left and right display the numeral "20" and a bust portrait of Emperor Trajan laureate facing left, respectively; below, twin altar vignettes flank a cartouche inscribed "BANCA NATIONALE A ROMANIEI". The lower portion carries the serial number, issue date "19 Ianuariu 1881.", denomination "DOUE DIECI LEI", and three facsimile signature lines. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A central circular medallion bears a laureate bust portrait of Emperor Trajan, surrounded by a circular penalty text legend; above the medallion the denomination "DOUE DIECI LEI" is repeated, and below it a rectangular cartouche reads "ROMANIA". Flanking medallions with ornate guilloche frames encircle the two transparent windows, each surmounted by a cartouche with the numeral "20". |
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| Comments |
Romania's central bank has issued commemorative polymer notes with some regularity, but this one marks a specific archival milestone: the first 20 Lei note issued by the NBR dated to 1881, making 2021 the 140th anniversary of that original series. The NBR's in-house printing works has handled domestic banknote production continuously since 1880 — one of the longer unbroken runs of self-printed currency in Europe — and this note was produced entirely there.
Flat printing on polymer is a technically constrained process compared to intaglio, limiting the tactile depth achievable on the surface. The transparent window is the primary security anchor for the issue.