Romania (1934-1947)

This serie of banknotes is one before, during (Antoniescu's regime) and after WWII, becoming a communist country. There are banknotes of 500 lei, 1,000 lei, 2,000 lei, 5,000 lei, 10,000 lei, 100,000 lei, 1,000,000 lei and 5,000,000 lei.

5,000 lei (cinci mil lei)

This banknotes worth 5,000 lei was first circulated March the 20th of 1945. On the main side left, you can see the faces of Trajan (a Roman emperor from 98 to 117 AD who conquered Dacia, in current Romania) and Decebalus (last king of Dacia before Trajan conquered it). Next to it there's a mosaic and in the center appears Romanian coat of arms, the written value and the name of the National Bank in Romanian (Banca Naţională a României).
In the right, it can be seen a space. In the back part of it, there is an industrial, urban and rural landscape. In the upper part there is a 5,000 and the name of the country, all inside a frame. The lower text says that counterfeiting is forbidden by law. It has letters of the national bank and in the left edge, a wave border. This banknote has shapes all along the banknote as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 16.4 cm x 9.1 cm.

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Romania (1966-1991)

This serie of banknotes is last of the comunist regime under the leadership of Nicolae Ceaușescu, who stablished an personalist dictatorship until he was overthrown by the Romanian Revolution (1989). There are banknotes of 1 lei, 3 lei, 5 lei, 10 lei, 25 lei, 50 lei and 100 lei.

1 leu (un leu)

This banknotes worth 1 leu was first circulated November the 1st of 1966. On the main side center, you can see socialist Romania's coat of arms. It is surrounded by geometric elements. In the down part it's written the value of this banknote. Moreover there are two 1's located in opposite corners of this paper money. In the upper part you can see the name of the National Bank (Banca Națională a la Republicii Socialiste Romănia).
In the back part of it, there is again the value of the banknote written in the center. This image is surrounded by geometric elements as a border. You can see three 1's, one in each corner in the right and one in the left center. This banknote has no digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 10.4 cm x 5.3 cm.

3 lei (trei lei)

This banknotes worth 3 lei was first circulated November the 1st of 1966. On the main side center, you can see socialist Romania's coat of arms. It is surrounded by geometric elements. In the down part it's written the value of this banknote. Moreover there are three 3's located in opposite corners and in the left side of this paper money. In the upper part you can see the name of the National Bank (Banca Națională a la Republicii Socialiste Romănia).
In the back part of it, there is again the value of the banknote written in the center. This image is surrounded by geometric elements as a border. You can see three 3's, one in each corner in the right and one in the left center. This banknote has no digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 10.4 cm x 5.3 cm.

5 lei (cinci lei)

This banknotes worth 5 lei was first circulated November the 1st of 1966. On the main side center, you can see socialist Romania's coat of arms. It is surrounded by geometric elements. In the down part it's written the value of this banknote. Moreover there are two 5's in opposite corners. In the upper part you can see the name of the National Bank (Banca Națională a la Republicii Socialiste Romănia). The digital watermark are lines of rhombus.
In the back part of it, there is an scene in a port full with fishing boats. This image is surrounded by geometric elements as a border. You can see three 5's, one in each corner in the right and one in the left center. The size of this banknote is 12 cm x 6.1 cm.

10 lei (zece lei)

This banknotes worth 10 lei was first circulated November the 1st of 1966. On the main side center, you can see socialist Romania's coat of arms. It is surrounded by geometric elements. In the down part it's written the value of this banknote. Moreover there are three 10's along the border of this paper money. In the upper part you can see the name of the National Bank (Banca Națională a la Republicii Socialiste Romănia).
In the back part of it, there is an scene of harvesting, with a harvester and tractors. This image is surrounded by geometric elements as a border. You can see three 10's, one in each corner in the right and one in the left center. The digital watermark are lines of rhombus. The size of this banknote is 13.1 cm x 6.5 cm.

25 lei (douazeci si cinci lei)

This banknotes worth 25 lei was first circulated November the 1st of 1966. On the main side left, you can see Tudor Vladimirescu, leader of the Wallachian uprising in 1821 and of the Trenck's Pandur militia. In the center you can see the symbol of comunist Romania. In the upper part you can see the name of the National Bank (Banca Națională a la Republicii Socialiste Romănia) and a text saying that counterfeiting banknotes is punished by law. 
The rest of the banknote is fulled with decorative elements. The digital watermark are lines of rhombus.In the back part of it, there is a factory, which is the coke ovens of the Hunedoara Steeworks. In the left there is a edging with geometric elements. You can see two 25's, one in each side. The size of this banknote is 14 cm x 6.8 cm.

50 lei (douazeci si cinci lei)

This banknotes worth 25 lei was first circulated November the 1st of 1966. On the main side left, you can see Alexandru Ioan Cuza, prince of the United Principalities of Wallachi and Moldova (1859-1866). In the center you can see the symbol of comunist Romania. In the upper part you can see the name of the National Bank (Banca Națională a la Republicii Socialiste Romănia) and a text saying that counterfeiting banknotes is punished by law. 
The rest of the banknote is fulled with decorative elements. In the back part of it appears the Palace of Culture in Iași. In the left there is a edging with geometric elements. You can see two 50's, one in each side. The digital watermark are lines of rhombus. The size of this banknote is 14.5 cm x 7.2 cm.

100 lei (una suta lei)

This banknotes worth 100 lei was first circulated November the 1st of 1966. On the main side left, you can see Nicolae Bălcescu, leader of the Wallachian Revolution in 1848 (nationalist, liberal and romantic revolution in the south of Romania). In the center you can see the symbol of comunist Romania. In the upper part you can see the name of the National Bank (Banca Națională a la Republicii Socialiste Romănia) and a text saying that counterfeiting banknotes is punished by law.

The rest of the banknote is fulled with decorative elements.The digital watermark are lines of rhombus.In the back part of it, there is the Romanian Athenaeum, a concert hall in the center of Bucharest. In the left there is a edging with geometric elements. You can see four 100's, one in each corner.The size of this banknote is 15.3 cm x 7.5 cm.

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Romania (1992-1996)

This serie of banknotes is the first one after the end of the communist regime, when Ion Iliescu leaded the country to democracy untill he was defeated in 1996 elections by Emil Constantinescu. There are banknotes of 200 lei, 500 lei, 1,000 lei, 5,000 lei and 10,000 lei.

200 lei (două sute lei)

This banknotes worth 200 lei was first circulated in December of 1992. On the main side right, you can see Grigore Antipa, a Romanian Darwinist biologist who studied the Danube Delta and the Black Sea. Next to him there's a boat, a heron, a flower, a lighthouse, the written value and two 200's. In the left appears the Romanian coat of arms, another 200, a gap and the name and symbol of the National Bank in Romanian (Banca Naţională a României).
The rest of the baknote is fulled with decorative and colourful elements. In the back part of it appears wildlife in the Danube Delta and a wind rose. There are three 200's, the name of the National Bank and the written value of the banknote. The right text says that counterfeiting is punished by law. The digital watermark of this banknote is Antipa's face. The size of this banknote is 15.5 cm x 7.6 cm.

500 lei (cinci sute lei)

This banknotes worth 500 lei was first circulated December of 1992. On the main side right, you can see Constantin Brâncuși, a Romanian sculptor, painter and photographer considered the patriarch of modern sculpture. Next to him there're some sculptures, two 500's, the written value and in the left appears Romanian coat of arms. In the left there's another 500, a gap and the name and symbol of the National Bank in Romanian (Banca Naţională a României).
The rest of the baknote is fulled with decorative and colourful elements. In the back part of it appears some sculptures done by Brâncuși. There are six 500's, the name of the National Bank and the written value of the banknote. The right text says that counterfeiting is punished by law. The digital watermark of this banknote is Brâncuși's face. The size of this banknote is 16 cm x 7.6 cm.

1,000 lei (una mie lei)

This banknotes worth 1,000 lei was first circulated in September of 1991. On the main side right, you can see Mihai Eminescu, a Romanian romantic poet, novelist and journalist. Next to it there are sails of a ship, two 1,000's, the written value and in the left appears Romanian coat of arms. In the left there's another 1,000, a gap and the name and symbol of the National Bank in Romanian (Banca Naţională a României).
The rest of the baknote is fulled with decorative and colourful elements. In the back part of it appears Putna Monastery, a 15th century Orthodox monastery dedicated to Prince Stephen the Great. There are three 1,000's, the written value of the banknote and the name of the National Bank. The right text says that counterfeiting is punished by law. The digital watermark of this banknote is Eminescu's face. The size of this banknote is 16.7 cm x 7.6 cm.

5,000 lei (cinci mii lei)

This banknotes worth 5,000 lei was first circulated March of 1992. On the main side right, you can see Avram Iancu, a Romanian lawyer who played an important role in the Austrian Empire Revolutions (1848–1849). Next to it there a picture of Târgu Mureș, two 5,000's, the written value and in the left appears Romanian coat of arms. The rest of the baknote is fulled with decorative and colourful elements.
In the left there's another 5,000, a gap and the name and symbol of the National Bank in Romanian (Banca Naţională a României).  In the back part of it appears Densuş Church (a 7th century church), Dacian Draco (standard ensign of troops of the ancient Dacian people) and the gate of Alba Iulia Citadel. There are three 5,000's, the written value of the banknote and in the right text says that counterfeiting is punished by law. The digital watermark of this banknote is Iancu's face. The size of this banknote is 17.2 cm x 7.6 cm.

10,000 lei (zece mil lei)

This banknotes worth 10,000 lei was first circulated February of 1994. On the main side right, you can see Nicolae Iorga, a Romanian historian, writter and politician who was briefly Prime Minister (1932). Next to it there's a snake, a 10,000, the written value and in the left appears Romanian coat of arms. In the left there's another 10,000, a gap and the name and symbol of the National Bank in Romanian (Banca Naţională a României).

The rest of the baknote is fulled with decorative and colourful elements. In the back part of it appears Şuţu Palace, a Neogothic palace built for Situ family now used as History Museum. There are some statues and in the upper part there is a 10,000. The right text says that counterfeiting is punished by law. The digital watermark of this banknote is Iorga's face and it has a security thread too. The size of this banknote is 18.1 cm x 7.7 cm.

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Romania (2000-2003)

This serie of banknotes belongs to the period after Ion Iliescu was back in the government. There are banknotes of 2,000 lei, 10,000 lei, 50,000 lei, 100,000 lei, 500,000 lei and 1,000,000 lei.

2,000 lei (doua mil lei)

This banknotes worth 2,000 lei was first circulated August the 2nd of 1999. On the main side right, you can see the Solar System, showing the planets revolving around the Sun. It contains some words, conmemorating the last total solar eclipse of the millenium (visible there). Next to it there's, in a circle, the symbol of the National Bank and in the upper part the name of the National Bank in Romanian (Banca Naţională a României). In the left appears Romanian coat of arms.
On the other side of the banknote there is a map outline of Romania with the colours of the Romanian flag. It marks the main cities where the solar eclipse was visible. You can see two 2,000's and it has letters of the symbol of the National Bank. Unlike many banknotes, it's made of polymer (plastic) so that is why this banknote has no digital watermark but transparent windows (with galaxy shapes). The size of this banknote is 14.4 cm x 6.4 cm.

10,000 lei (zece mil lei)

This banknotes worth 10,000 lei was first circulated September the 18th of 2000. On the main side right, you can see Nicolae Iorga, a Romanian historian, writter and politician who was briefly Prime Minister (1932) and the flower willow gentian. Next to it there's, in a circle, the symbol of the National Bank and in the upper part the name of the National Bank in Romanian (Banca Naţională a României). In the left appears Romanian coat of arms, two 10,000's and the written value of the banknote.

On the other side of the banknote it can be seen the Cathedral of Curtea de Argeș, an Orthodox cathedral in the city with the same name and the eagle from the Wallachian coat of arms. You can see two 10,000's, the written value of the banknote and it has letters of the symbol of the National Bank. Unlike many banknotes, it's made of polymer (plastic) so that is why this banknote has no digital watermark but transparent windows (with galaxy shapes). The size of this banknote is 15 cm x 6.7 cm.

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Romania (1996-2000)

This serie of banknotes is one of the first after the comunist regime was overthrown, after the 1996 elections in which Emil Constantinescu was elected President of Romania (the first Government with the Hungarian minority) and till 2000 elections, in which Ion Iliescu recovered the Presidency. There are banknotes of 1,000 lei, 5,000 lei, 10,000 lei, 50,000 lei and 100,000 lei.

100,000 lei (una suta mil lei)

This banknotes worth 100,000 lei was first circulated June the 1st of 1998. On the main side right, you can see Nicolae Grigorescu, one of the founders of Romanian modern painting, belonging to Impressionism and Barbizon school and the written value of the banknote. Next to it there is an holographic palette. In the center it can be see a brush and a marshmallow. In the upper part it can be seen the name of the National Bank in Romanian (Banca Naţională a României) and its symbol. In the left, it can be seen a space used for the digital watermark. In the back part of it, there is a traditional house from Oltenia (south of Romania), scene from Rodica painting. You can see three 100,000's the name of the National Bank and the written value of the banknote. This banknote has Grigorescu's face  and the letters BNR as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 16.3 cm x 7.3 cm

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Romania (2003-nowadays)

This serie of banknotes belongs to the period in which Romania chose its third president, Traian Băsescu, who chose Călin Popescu Tăriceanu of PNL to make a coalition government without the PSD, and joined NATO (2004) with the acceptance of the majority of its population. During the period after the fall of the communist regime, between 4 and 12 million people left the country in search of a better life, mainly to Italy and Spain, facilitated by the accession to the European Union (EU), where they entered the 1st of January 2007. In January 2012, the largest protests since 1989 were organized for the eco-economic crisis and the introduction of a reform in the health system. There are banknotes of 1 leu, 5 lei, 10 lei, 50 lei, 100 lei, 200 lei and 500 lei.

5 lei (cinci lei)

This banknote worth 5 lei was first circulated in July the 1st of 2005. On the main side right it can be seen George Enescu, Romanian 20th century composer, violinist, pedagogue, pianist and conductor, considered one of the most important musicians of his country. In the center appears a carnation, musical notes and the name and symbol of the National Bank in Romanian (Banca Naţională a României), plus the written name of the banknote and two 5's. In the left appear Romania's coat of arms and decorative elements too.
On the other side of the banknote there's the Romanian Athenaeum, a 1888 concert hall in the center of Bucharest, a piano and a part of George Enescu opera Œdipe's score. Moreover there are two 5's, the written value of the banknote and the name of the National Bank. Unlike many banknotes, it's made of polymer (plastic) so that is why this banknote has no digital watermark but transparent windows (with quaver) and a security thread too. The size of this banknote is 12.7 cm x 6.7 cm.

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