Romanian and Moldovan Variations of the 1990s

[<k>]

After throwing off communism, Romania issued a one leu coin in 1992. This was a one year type, and was followed in 1993 by a very different design. I don't know the reason for the swift change. Can anybody help?

[<k>]

Moldova made a similar design change to her 50 bani coin in the 1990s.

1993. 50 bani.                  Aluminium.
1997. 50 bani.  Grape vine. Brass-clad steel.

I'm guessing the metal change was intended to aid recognition.

[andyg]

Moldova made a similar design change to her 50 bani coin in the 1990s.

They also dropped completely the 1 and 5 lei, replacing them with banknotes.

The Romanian 10 Lei was also re-designed in 1993.

[<k>]

The Romanian 10 Lei was also re-designed in 1993.

The 1990-92 10 lei had been specifically commemorating the 1989 revolution, so that change seems self-explanatory - the ones in this topic, not so.

[andyg]

Both 1 and 10 Lei were modified at the same time to have the coat of arms tho,
perhaps the decision to place the coat of arms on both these coins was taken at the same time...

[<k>]

Both 1 and 10 Lei were modified at the same time to have the coat of arms tho,
perhaps the decision to place the coat of arms on both these coins was taken at the same time...

Quick thinking, Batman! 

[Figleaf]

Another important element was inflation. At the time, inflation ran to the tune of 300% annually. I was in Romania in 1993. I didn't see a single coin in circulation. In 2005, a new Leu was introduced, worth 10 000 old leu. Therefore, I think you may assume that none of these coins actually circulated, so the design must have been a purely political matter.

At the time, Romania was politically very unstable. The results of the elections of 1990 were generally not accepted and said to have brought a rightist party of ex party-bosses and Securitate members back in government fraudulently. From that time on, leftist nationalists (FDSN) were slowly taking over the country. My guess is that it is the change of regime in 1992 that brought about the change of the design.

Peter

[andyg]

Another important element was inflation. At the time, inflation ran to the tune of 300% annually. I was in Romania in 1993. I didn't see a single coin in circulation. In 2005, a new Leu was introduced, worth 10 000 old leu. Therefore, I think you may assume that none of these coins actually circulated, so the design must have been a purely political matter.

At the time, Romania was politically very unstable. The results of the elections of 1990 were generally not accepted and said to have brought a rightist party of ex party-bosses and Securitate members back in government fraudulently. From that time on, leftist nationalists (FDSN) were slowly taking over the country. My guess is that it is the change of regime in 1992 that brought about the change of the design.

Peter

The effects of the inflation you mention can be seen in the mintage figures for the 1 Lei as it rapidly went out of use,
1992 60,000,000
1993 61,000,000
1994 10,000,000
1995   2,000,000
1996      272,000
2000-2003 sets only

[<k>]

See also:

01] Bessarabia, Moldavia, Moldova and Transnistria.

02] Coinage of Belarus.

03] Coinage of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

04] Coinage of modern Serbia.

05] Coinage of North Macedonia.

06] Coinage of the Czech Republic.

07] Croatia: post-Yugoslav coinage.

08] Czechoslovak heroes on post-communist circulation coins.

09] Hungary: post-communist coinage.

10] Poland: Design series of 1995.

11] Post-communist coinage of Albania.

12] Post-communist coinage of Lithuania.

13] Post-communist coinage of Romania.

14] Slovakia's first post-communist coin series.

15] Slovenia: post-Yugoslav coinage.

16] Romanian and Moldovan Variations of the 1990s.

17] The final coin series of Yugoslavia.