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5 Lei
| Issuer | Romania |
|---|---|
| Year | 1877 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | 152 × 86 mm |
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| Obverse description | The upper portion bears the denomination numeral "5" at centre, flanked by two large circular guilloche medallions — the left incorporating the watermark area and the right bearing the manuscript signatures of the Treasurer and Minister of Finance. At lower centre, the Romanian coat of arms with the head of an aurochs and a star is framed by an allegorical vignette of two female figures and five children symbolising agriculture, industry, and commerce. The plate inscription "A. BRAMTOT et G. DUVAL fec. P. DUJARDIN sc." appears in the lower margin. |
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| Protection type | Watermark |
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| Comments |
Romania's first domestically-authorized banknote series, of which this is the lowest denomination, was rushed into production in Paris largely because Romania lacked any printing infrastructure capable of handling security documents. The timing was deliberate — the notes were authorized in April 1877, weeks after Romania's entry into the Russo-Turkish War, with the government needing paper currency to manage wartime expenditure without draining its metallic reserves.
Bramtot and Duval were established Imprimerie Nationale figures, and Dujardin's engraving work is consistent with the quality that house was producing for multiple sovereign clients in the 1870s. The watermark is the sole security measure — no serial number variation or overprint system was employed on the initial issue.