The Coins of the Romanian leu have been issued since the introduction of the Romanian leu in 1867.
First leu
In 1867, copper 1, 2, 5 and 10 bani were issued, with gold 20 lei (known as poli after the French Napoleons) first minted the next year. These were followed, between 1870 and 1873, by silver 50 bani, 1 and 2 lei. Silver 5 lei were added in 1880. Uniquely, the 1867 issue used the spelling 1 banu rather than 1 ban.
In 1900, cupro-nickel 5, 10 and 20 bani coins were introduced, with holed versions following in 1905. The production of coins ceased in 1914, recommencing in 1921 with aluminium 25 and 50 bani pieces. Cupro-nickel 1 and 2 lei coins were introduced in 1924, followed by nickel brass 5, 10 and 20 lei in 1930. In 1932, silver 100 lei coins were issued. However, inflation meant that, in 1935, smaller silver 250 lei coins were introduced with nickel 100 lei coins being issued in 1936, followed by nickel 50 lei in 1937.
In 1941 and 1942, zinc 2, 5 and 20 lei coins were introduced, together with silver 200 and 500 lei. Nickel-clad-steel 100 lei followed in 1943, with brass 200 and 500 lei issued in 1945. In 1946 and 1947, a new coinage was issued consisting of aluminium 500 lei, brass 2000 and 10,000 lei, and silver 25,000 and 100,000 lei.
King Carol I
First Leu Coins – 1867 Series
Image
Value
Technical parameters
Description
Date of
Diameter
Mass
Composition
Edge
Obverse
Reverse
first minting
withdrawal
lapse
1 banu
15 mm
copper
Value, wreath, year of minting
coat of arms
1867
2 bani
20 mm
5 bani
25 mm
10 bani
30 mm
First Leu Coins – 1872-1873 Series
Image
Value
Technical parameters
Description
Date of
Diameter
Mass
Composition
Edge
Obverse
Reverse
first minting
withdrawal
lapse
50 bani
18 mm
2.5 g
Crown above date within wreath
Value above sprays
1873
1 leu
23 mm
5 g
silver
Value, wreath, year of minting
CAROL I DOMNUL ROMANIEI("Carol I, Lord of Romania")
1870
19 December 1931
2 lei
27 mm
10 g
Value, wreath, ROMANIA
coat of arms, year of minting
1872
First Leu Coins – 1880 Series
Image
Value
Technical parameters
Description
Date of
Diameter
Mass
Composition
Edge
Obverse
Reverse
first minting
withdrawal
lapse
2 bani
20 mm
copper
Value, year of minting, ROMANIA, coat of arms
CAROL I DOMNUL ROMANIEI ("Carol I, Lord of Romania")
1880
First Leu Coins – 1884 Series
Image
Value
Technical parameters
Description
Date of
Diameter
Mass
Composition
Edge
Obverse
Reverse
first minting
withdrawal
lapse
5 bani
25 mm
copper
Value, year of minting, ROMANIA, coat of arms
CAROL I REGE AL ROMANIEI ("Carol I, King of Romania")
1882
2 bani
25 mm
copper
Value, year of minting, ROMANIA, coat of arms
CAROL I REGE AL ROMANIEI ("Carol I, King of Romania")
1882
First Leu Coins – 1900 Series
Image
Value
Technical parameters
Description
Date of
Diameter
Mass
Composition
Edge
Obverse
Reverse
first minting
withdrawal
lapse
1 ban
15 mm
1 g
copper 95%, tin 4%, zinc 1%
Smooth
Value, year of minting, ROMANIA, coat of arms
CAROL I REGE AL ROMANIEI ("Carol I, King of Romania")
1900
2 bani
20 mm
2 g
5 bani
19 mm
3.5 g
copper 75%, nickel 25%
ROMANIA, value
Steel crown, wreath, year of minting
1900
10 bani
22 mm
4.5 g
20 bani
25 mm
7 g
50 bani
25 mm
2.5 g
silver 83.5%
Milled
Value, year of minting
CAROL I REGE AL ROMANIEI ("Carol I, King of Romania")
1884
19 December 1931
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.
In 1932, silver 100 lei coins were issued. However, inflation meant that, in 1935, smaller silver 250 lei coins were introduced with nickel 100 lei coins being issued in 1936, followed by nickel 50 lei in 1937.
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.
Second leu
In 1947, coins were issued before the abdication of King Michael I, in denominations of 50 bani, 1, 2 and 5 lei.
King Michael I
Second Leu Coins – 1947 Series
Image
Value
Technical parameters
Description
Date of
Diameter
Mass
Composition
Edge
Obverse
Reverse
first minting
withdrawal
lapse
50 bani
16 mm
1.7 g
nickel-brass
value
"ROMANIA", crown, year of minting
15 August 1947
1948
1952
1 leu
18 mm
2.5 g
brass
value, ears of wheat on the sides
"ROMANIA", royal coat of arms, olive branches, year of minting
2 lei
21 mm
3.5 g
bronze
5 lei
23 mm
1.5 g
aluminium
value, ears of wheat
portrait of King Michael, "MIHAI I REGELE ROMANILOR", year of minting
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.
People's Republic of Romania
After the creation of the People's Republic, new coins were issued between 1948 and 1952, in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 20 lei.
Second Leu Coins – 1947 Series
Image
Value
Technical parameters
Description
Date of
Diameter
Mass
Composition
Edge
Obverse
Reverse
first minting
withdrawal
lapse
1 leu
16 mm
1.83 g
nickel-brass
value, year of minting
oil well, rising sun
1948
30 January 1952
1 February 1952
0.61 g
aluminium
2 lei
18 mm
2.44 g
nickel-brass
corn cob
0.84 g
aluminium
5 lei
23 mm
3.5 g
bronze
olive wreath, value, year of minting
coat of arms, "REPUBLICA POPULARA ROMANA"
20 lei
26 mm
1.5 g
aluminium
Blacksmith at work using a hammer and an anvil, factory in the background, value
coat of arms, "REPUBLICA POPULARA ROMANA", year of minting
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.
Third leu
People's Republic of Romania
In 1952, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10 and 25 bani, with the 1, 3 and 5 struck in aluminium bronze and the others in cupro-nickel. In 1955, cupro-nickel 50 bani were added.
Coat of arms, Republica Populară Română (Romanian People's Republic) or Republica Populară Romînă
25 bani
22mm
3.6g
50 bani
25mm
4.55g
Blacksmith at work using a hammer and an anvil, factory in the background, value
Coat of arms, Republica Populară Română (Romanian People's Republic), year of minting
1955
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.
In 1960, a new coinage was introduced, consisting of 15 and 25 bani, with 5 bani, 1 and 3 lei coins added in 1963. All were struck in nickel-clad steel. In 1975, aluminium replaced steel in the 5 and 15 bani, with the same change happening for the 25 bani in 1982. Aluminium 5 lei were introduced in 1978.
Coat of arms, Republica Socialistă România ("Socialist Republic of Romania"), year of first minting
25 bani
22 mm
1.3 g
Value, agricultural scene, wheat
1982
5 lei
29 mm
2.8 g
"~*~*"
Value, industrial scene, wheat, and cogwheel
1978
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.
Post-Communist Romania
Following the end of the communist regime, a new coinage was introduced between 1990 and 1992, consisting of 1 leu in bronze clad steel, 5 and 10 lei in nickel-plated steel, 20 and 50 lei in brass clad steel and nickel-plated steel 100 lei.
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.
As inflation took its toll, 500, 1,000 and 5,000 lei coins were introduced in 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively, and were the only coins circulating when the revaluation occurred. They were all criticized for being clumsy and difficult to use. The 500 lei coins were very thick (about 0.3 cm). Despite their small value, it took only a handful of such coins to fill one's pocket. They were also made of poor material and could be occasionally found with bite marks. The 1000 lei coin was considered too small and was also cheaply made, and the 5000 lei coin was not circular (it was a dodecagon). This made it awkward to handle and difficult to use in slot machines, where it was frequently the only coin accepted. The 500, 1,000 and 5,000 lei coins became worth 5, 10 and 50 bani with the revaluation.
Fourth leu
In 2005, the following coins were introduced for circulation:
Portrait of Prince Vladislav I Vlaicu, the obverse and the reverse of a ducat that he issued, the inscriptions “VLADISLAV I VLAICU” and “1364” (the year of his ascent to the throne of Wallachia)
2014
28 April 2014
Value, "ROMANIA", year of issue "2015", Coat of arms, in the background a continuous five row inscription of the text: "BNR50"
The Old Palace of the Romanian National Bank, the inscriptions "10 ANI", "DENOMINAREA MONEDEI NATIONALE" and "2005" the year of the denomination.
Value, "ROMANIA", year of issue "2018", Coat of arms, "MAREA ADUNARE DE LA ALBA IULIA" (The Great National Assembly of Alba Iulia, scene from the Great National Assembly of Alba Iulia in the background
Value, "ROMANIA", year of issue "2019", Coat of arms images from the first visit of King Ferdinand I, and Queen Marie in Transylvania, after the War on the background
King Ferdinand I, "FERDINAND I ÎNTRAGITORUL" (Ferdinad I the Unifier)
2019
27 August 2019
Value, "ROMANIA", year of issue "2019", Coat of arms, images from the first visit of King Ferdinand I, and Queen Marie durng a front visit on the background