Between July and September 2022, the National Bank of Romania and the “Dimitrie Gusti” National Village Museum organise a temporary exhibition entitled Coin and costume. Representations of traditional clothing in modern Romanian numismatics. The exhibition aims to symbolically recreate the Romanian rural universe at the end of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, illustrating it from a double perspective: through the elements of traditional civilisation and the manner in which they were depicted on the banknotes issued by the NBR over time.

Visitors can admire over 200 objects from the collection of the “Dimitrie Gusti” National Village Museum: folk costumes, objects belonging to the household inventory (dishes, furniture, fabrics, dowry chests, etc.) and the agricultural one (tools of various types), as well as artefacts that are directly related to the spiritual dimension of the traditional village: roadside crucifixes, wooden icons, religious seals, etc.

At the same time, the exhibition showcases some of the Romanian banknotes in circulation since 1877 and until mid-20th century, which depict the folk costume, as well as banknote projects featuring similar designs, some of which were drawn by prominent Romanian artists such as Arthur Verona, Ion Theodorescu-Sion, Ary Murnu, etc.

Part of the collection of Romanian and foreign coins, mounted on jewels (necklaces, earrings, belts, rings, brooches and bracelets), that are in the patrimony of the National Bank of Romania is also on display. Such ornaments, especially necklaces, were widespread, being worn throughout the country and representing both a symbol of social prestige and a unique means of saving from a contemporary perspective.

The exhibition is open until the end of September 2022 and it can be visited during the free guided tours that the NBR Museum organises Mondays to Fridays, according to a prior scheduling.