1000 Lei

Romania's earliest high-denomination notes were printed in Paris by the Banque de France's printing operation, and this 1000 Lei belongs to a series that ran continuously for over two decades without fundamental redesign — a long lifespan that reflects both the stability of the Regat period and the high cost of commissioning new intaglio work. Dujardin was one of the more accomplished steel engravers working in Paris at the time, and his hand is visible in the fineness of the line work.

High-denomination notes of this series rarely circulated hard. Most passed between banks and the treasury, which means surviving examples tend to show fold lines from storage rather than the edge wear typical of retail use.