Moldovan leu

Moldovan leu
leu moldovenesc (Moldovan) (Romanian)
1 Leu note obverse and reverse
ISO 4217 Code	MDL
User(s)	Moldova (except Transnistria territorial unit / Transnistria)
Inflation	7.5%
Source	The World Factbook, 2008 est.
Subunit
1/100	ban
Plural	lei
ban	bani
Coins	1, 5, 10, 25, 50 bani
Banknotes	1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 lei
Central bank	National Bank of Moldova
Website	www.bnm.md

The leu (ISO 4217 code MDL) is the currency of Moldova. Like the Romanian leu, the Moldovan leu (pl. lei) is subdivided into 100 bani (singular: ban). The name of the currency originates in Romania and means "lion".

History

Between 1918 and 1940 and again between 1941 and 1944, when Moldova was part of Romania, the Romanian leu was used also in the eastern part of Moldavia. The Moldovan leu was established on 29 November 1993, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the creation of the independent republic of Moldova. It replaced the older cupon currency at a rate of 1 leu = 1000 cupon.

In Transnistria, an unrecognised break-away republic from eastern Moldova, Transnistrian ruble is used instead.

Coins

Coins consist of 1, 5, 10, and 25 bani in aluminium and 50 bani in aluminium-bronze. Aluminium 50 bani, and nickel-plated-steel 1 and 5 leu coins were issued in 1993 but have been withdrawn from circulation.

Banknotes

There have been two series of Moldovan leu banknotes. The first series was short-lived and only included 1, 5, and 10 lei.

Second Series
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Colour	Description			Date of
Obverse	Reverse				Obverse	Reverse	Watermark	first printing	issue
		1 leu	114 × 58 mm	Yellow	Stephen III	Mănăstirea Căpriana	As portrait	1994	May 1994
		5 lei		Blue		Biserica sf. Dumitru din Orhei			April 1994
		10 lei	121 × 61 mm	Red		Mănăstirea Hîrjauca			May 1994
		20 lei		Lime		Cetatea Soroca		1992	November 1993
		50 lei		Pink		Mănăstirea Hîrbovăţ			May 1994
		100 lei		Orange		Cetatea Tighina			September 1995
		200 lei	133 × 66 mm	Pink and yellow		Chişinău Mayoralty
		500 lei		Orange and green		Chişinău Cathedral			December 1999
		1000 lei		Purple		Presidency building			October 2003
For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

Curious facts

• On the front side of each banknote only one man is represented - the best-known ruler of Moldavia - Ştefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great).
• On the back side of a 100 lei banknote the Bendery fortress is shown, though there is a typo in its name, as the word Thighina should be written without first "h" - Tighina.
• The first two lines of the Mioriţa ballad - «Pe-un picior de plai, Pe-o gură de rai…», are written in the white circle on the front side of each banknote.
• On the back side of a 1000 lei banknote the Presidency building is shown, yet the writing says that it's the Parliament building. This is because when these banknotes were first printed in 1992 this building was indeed the Parliament building, but then it became the Presidency building.

See also

• Economy of Moldova