500 Lei

Romania's 500 Lei of 1947 was issued during one of the most turbulent monetary periods in the country's history. The communist-backed Groza government had taken power in 1945, and by mid-1947 inflation was severe enough that the regime used currency reform as a deliberate political weapon — the leu stabilization of August 1947 imposed strict exchange limits that effectively wiped out private savings and crushed the remaining bourgeoisie. Notes from the months immediately preceding that reform, including this denomination, were rendered worthless almost overnight.

The note was printed by the Romanian State Printing Works. Short print window, abrupt demonetization.