In accordance with the provisions of Law 101/1998 - The NBR Act and the Ordinance No. 45/1998 issued by the Government of Romania and approved by Law No. 244/1998 on vesting the NBR with the power to put in circulation numismatic coins made of precious metals, the National Bank of Romania will issue, starting 31 August 2001, three silver coins with face value of ROL 50, to pay homage to the forerunners of the Romanian aviation: Traian Vuia, Henri Coanda and Elie Carafoli, who by their inventions and scientific work have contributed to the foundation of the Romanian aeronautics school.
Characteristics of the three coins:
- type of metal: silver;
- fineness: 999/1000;
- quality: proof;
- shape: octagonal;
- side of octagon: 11.1 mm;
- radius of the circumscribed circle: 14.5 mm;
- thickness: 2.49 mm;
- weight: 15.551 grams;
- edge: flat;
- year of issue: 2001.
The obverse and the reverse of the three coins include both common and particular graphic and heraldic elements.
The obverse of the coins includes:
(a) common elements:
- the inscription "ROMANIA" engraved circularly, with capital letters on the upper part;
- the Coat of Arms of Romania, in the centre of the lower part and flanked by the year of issue "2001". The face value "50 Lei" is engraved horizontally, under the Coat of Arms,
(b) as well as specific elements:
The coin dedicated to the engineer Traian Vuia
On the obverse, the "Vuia I-1906" aircraft conceived, designed, built and flown by the inventor. The name of the aircraft "AVIONUL VUIA I-1906" is placed in a frame marked by two horizontal lines beneath the reproduction of the aircraft Traian Vuia flew with on 18 March 1906, near Paris. It was the first time ever that a machine heavier than air took off.
The coin dedicated to the scientist Henri Coanda
On the obverse, the first jet-propelled aircraft in the world, "AVIONUL COANDA 1910", designed and built by the Romanian engineer. The name of the aircraft is inscribed in a frame marked by two horizontal lines under the reproduction of the aircraft. The plane was exhibited on the 2nd International Aeronautic Show in Paris and its inventor is considered the founder of jet propulsion.
The coin dedicated to the scientist Elie Carafoli
On the obverse, the aircraft "IAR CV-11", the first Romanian fighter plane with low wing designed by the Romanian engineer. Beneath the reproduction of the aircraft, in a frame marked by two parallel horizontal lines, the name of the aircraft "AVIONUL IAR CV-11".
The reverse of each coin includes:
(a) common elements:
- the inscription "PIONIERI AI AVIAŢIEI ROMÂNE" engraved horizontally, on two lines, on the upper part.
(b) specific elements:
- the portrait of one of the three Romanian builders, Traian Vuia, Henri Coanda and Elie Carafoli in the centre of each coin.
- beneath the portrait, the name of the inventor: Traian Vuia, Henri Coanda, and Elie Carafoli, along with the facsimile signature. The year of birth and the year of death are engraved vertically, on the two sides of the portrait.
The three coins making up the issue "Forerunners of Romanian Aviation" are encapsulated in transparent plastic cases and shall be sold only in sets packed in adequate boxes, accompanied by authentication certificates (in Romanian and English), bearing serial numbers and the signature of both the Governor and the Head Cashier, as well as by a prospectus.
The 500 sets of coins are to be sold both on the domestic and foreign markets. For numismatic purposes, the silver coins issued by the National Bank of Romania may be purchased, held and exchanged by individual or corporate entities pursuant to Art. 2 of Ordinance No. 45/1998 issued by the Government of Romania and approved by Law No. 244/1998.
The silver coins with face value of ROL 50 - year of issue 2001 - are legal tender in Romania.
The design of the coins is protected by registration with the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks (OSIM) in Romania. Forgery or counterfeiting of these coins is an infringement of the law and shall be penalised accordingly.
The branches of the National Bank of Romania are in charge of putting into circulation the silver coins for numismatic purposes.