Numismatic issue - a silver coin marking 150 years since the birth of the composer Ciprian Porumbescu
17.07.2003
Pursuant to Law No. 101/1998-The NBR Act and Ordinance No. 45/1998 issued by the Government of Romania, as approved by Law No. 244/1998 on vesting the National Bank of Romania with the power to put into circulation numismatic coins made of precious metals, the National Bank of Romania issues starting 21 July 2003 a silver coin with face value of ROL 500 marking "150 years since the birth of the composer Ciprian Porumbescu".
Characteristics of the coins:
- shape: round;
- metal: silver;
- fineness: 999/1000;
- quality: proof;
- weight: 31.103 grams;
- edge: adorned;
- diameter: 37 mm;
- year of issue: 2003.
Obverse: on the left side a drawing joining symbolically two instruments (a violin and a piano, preferred by Ciprian Porumbescu as composer and interpreter). On the right side, Romania's coat-of-arms and the face value "500 LEI". On the upper side, the inscription "ROMANIA" is engraved circularly. The year of issue "2003" is mentioned horizontally, below the aforementioned inscription.
Reverse: the reproduction of the portrait of the composer Ciprian Porumbescu. The inscription "CIPRIAN PORUMBESCU " and the years "1853-1883" (the composer's life span), separated by a musical decorative pattern, are engraved circularly around the edge of the coin. A fragment from one of the composer's compositions is placed on both sides of the portrait.
The silver coins are encapsulated in transparent plastic cases. Each case is accompanied by an authentication certificate (in Romanian and English) bearing the signature of both the Governor and the Head Cashier of the National Bank of Romania, as well as by a prospectus.
The issue of 2,000 coins is to be sold both on domestic and foreign markets.
For numismatic purposes, the silver coins issued by the National Bank of Romania may be purchased by natural or legal persons. They may be held or exchanged by observing the provisions of Art. 2 of Ordinance No. 45/1998 issued by the Government of Romania, as approved by Law No. 244/1998.
The silver coins with face value ROL 500 - year of issue 2003 - marking "150 years since the birth of the composer Ciprian Porumbescu" are legal tender in Romania.
The design of this banknote is protected by registration with the State Office of Trademarks in Romania. Forgery or counterfeiting of these coins is an infringement of the law and shall be penalised accordingly.