10 000 Lei

Romania's hyperinflation of the early-to-mid 1990s forced repeated denomination jumps — by 1999, 10,000 lei had become a routine transactional note rather than a high-value one. At the peak of the inflationary spiral in 1993, annual inflation had exceeded 250%; though the rate had moderated by 1999, the accumulated erosion meant notes of this denomination were handling everyday purchases.

The series was eventually rendered obsolete by the 2005 redenomination, when 10,000 old lei became 1 new leu. Most of the paper stock from this period circulated heavily before retirement.