In the upper half, Romania’s coat-of-arms partially overlapping the face value – leu 500; below, an open book on a laurel wreath. The left page of the book features Eminescu’s portrait from 1869 and the right page show some of the poet’s signatures. The coat-of-arms and the book together with the laurel wreath superpose a double circle partially surrounding the elements of design. The inscription “ROMANIA” is engraved in a half circle on the lower outer side.
Obverse script
Latin
Obverse lettering
500 LEI
ROMANIA
Reverse description
In the middle, the memorial house in Ipoteşti, where the poet spent his childhood, and his portrait from 1885 surrounded by a double circle similar to that on the obverse. The inscriptions “MIHAI EMINESCU” and “160 ANI DE LA NASTEREA POETULUI” are engraved in a half circle on the upper side and on the lower side respectively, and the years “1850” and “2010” on the left side and right side respectively.
Reverse script
Latin
Reverse lettering
MIHAI EMINESCU
160 ANI DE LA NASTEREA POETULUI
1850
2010
