Description
The Romanian leu is the official currency of Romania. The official currency symbol: L. The currency’s name is derived from a Romanian word that means “lion.”
Four series of Romanian leu banknotes have been issued. The process started in 1870 when the first leu was introduced into the country. However, only until 1877, state notes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500 lei were adopted. Three years later, these notes were stamped by the Banca Națională a României, which began issuing standard notes in denominations of 20, 100, and 1,000 lei in the following year.
A second series was introduced in 1947, in which the Ministry of Finance, the Banca Națională a României and the Banca Republicii Populare Române, each from their administrations, issued banknotes in different denominations. Then in 1952, the issuance of a third series began, in which the three entities printed banknotes from their administration, as happened in the second series. Finally, in 1966 the Banca Națională a Republicii Socialiste România took over all the printing of paper money. Today, a fourth series circulates under the administration of the Banca Națională a României, which introduced banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 lei since 2005. The 200 leu note was issued in 2006.
The 50 Romanian lei note front design features the portrait of Aurel Vlaicu (1882 – 1913), who was a Romanian engineer, inventor, pilot and airplane constructor. The portrait is accompanied by an illustration of an edelweiss flower, the sketch of an airplane propeller, the National Coat of Arms, the drawing of a golden or mountain eagle head and the National Bank of Romania (Banca Națională a României) logo.
The reverse of the note illustrates a golden or mountain eagle head, a fragment of Vlaicu ‘s work, ”Vlaicu II airplane”, the sketch of an airplane engine section and the logo of the National Bank of Romania (Banca Națională a României). The lettering of the note is presented in the Romanian language. This note is part of the 2005 – 2020 series, and its color is yellow, light green, light blue and orange.
Text: BANCA NATIONALA A ROMANIEI 50, 1 iulie 2005, GUVERNATOR CASIER CENTRAL, 50 LEI CINCIZECI, CINCIZECI LEI, AUREL VLAICU 1882-1913, FALSIFICAREA ACESTOR BILETE SE PEDEPSEȘTE CONFORM LEGILOR, CINCIZECI LEI 50.