The power of the lion. The history of money in Romania, open exhibition at the Brukenthal Museum

The power of the lion. The history of money in Romania, open exhibition at the Brukenthal Museum

Published in Apr 24 2024 at 1:36 pm of Rotary Mirela

The Brukenthal National Museum in Sibiu organizes between April 24 and June 8, 2024, in partnership with the National Bank of Romania, the temporary exhibition “The power of the lion. The history of money in Romania”, with free entry.

The exhibition concept involves a foray into the story of our national currency, highlighting key moments in its history, which officially began in 1867 with the establishment of the national monetary system. At the same time, pieces dating from a period before 1867, more precisely from the medieval era, are brought to the public’s attention. Some notable examples are the ducats minted in Wallachia and Transylvania, respectively the grosi in Moldova.

Visitors will also discover leu thalers, the Dutch silver coins that circulated in the Romanian Lands from the end of the 16th century, which became so popular that they inspired the choice of the name “leu” for our national currency.

Approximately 150 objects will be exhibited to the public for the first time, with visitors to the Brukenthal National Museum in Sibiu being the first to have the opportunity to admire them in an exhibition.

The story of money will also be illustrated by means of other valuable pieces from the BNR Museum collection: the first jubilee coins issued by a Romanian monarch, which marked the 40th anniversary of King Carol I’s reign; the highest denomination banknotes in our monetary history; the smallest paper money printed in Romania; some of the most beautiful projects of Romanian banknotes, etc. The history of the leu will continue with the first coins minted at the State Mint in Bucharest in 1870, respectively with the first banknote issues of the National Bank of Romania, put into circulation in 1881.

At the same time, visitors will have the opportunity to get to know part of the monetary history of our country, respectively to understand the role that the National Bank of Romania has had, over time, in supporting the national currency.

Author: Cosmina Nicoara