Catalog
500 Lei
| Issuer | Banca Națională a României |
|---|---|
| Year | 1947 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | Central vignette of a female portrait in three-quarter profile set within a circular guilloche frame inscribed with the date 25 IUNIE 1947, flanked by ornate scrollwork side panels. The bank title BANCA NATIONALA A ROMANIEI runs along the top in letterpress, with the denomination CINCI SUTE LEI in large text above the central vignette. Signature titles GUVERNATOR and CASIER CENTRAL appear at lower left and lower right respectively, with the serial number and prefix printed at lower left and upper right. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Large central intaglio vignette of a farmer with horses ploughing a field, rendered in a dramatic, labour-glorifying artistic style. Circular guilloche rosettes in blue-green underprint flank the main vignette on either side. The denomination 500 LEI appears in large letterpress text at lower left and lower right, with the BNR monogram within a circular ornament at bottom centre. |
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| Comments |
Romania's 500 Lei of 1947 was issued during one of the most turbulent monetary periods in the country's history. The communist-backed Groza government had taken power in 1945, and by mid-1947 inflation was severe enough that the regime used currency reform as a deliberate political weapon — the leu stabilization of August 1947 imposed strict exchange limits that effectively wiped out private savings and crushed the remaining bourgeoisie. Notes from the months immediately preceding that reform, including this denomination, were rendered worthless almost overnight.
The note was printed by the Romanian State Printing Works. Short print window, abrupt demonetization.