5 Bani

Romania's 1952 coinage was issued under the Romanian People's Republic following the monetary reform of January 1952, which wiped out savings by converting old lei at punishing rates — 100 or even 200 old lei to 1 new leu depending on the holder's class background. The state used the reform explicitly as a tool to dispossess the bourgeoisie and kulaks. This 5 bani piece entered a circulation environment where most private wealth had just been administratively destroyed.