Pursuant to Law No. 312/2004 on the NBR Statute 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 will put into circulation a silver coin with face value of ROL 500 "Anghel Saligny - 150 years from birth" starting 13 September 2004.
Characteristics of the coin:
- shape: round;
- metal: silver;
- fineness: 999/1000;
- quality: proof;
- weight: 31.103 g;
- edge: smooth;
- diameter: 37 mm.
The obverse: In the centre, the image of the bridge of Cernavoda, Anghel Saligny's most outstanding achievement. The inscription containing the name of the construction work and its location: "PODUL DE LA CERNAVODA" are placed beneath the image of the bridge. Romania's coat-of-arms and the inscription "ROMÂNIA" are engraved on the left side. The year of issue "2004" and the face value "500 LEI" are inscribed on the lower part.
The reverse shows the portrait of Anghel Saligny. The inscription "ANGHEL SALIGNY - 150 DE ANI DE LA NASTERE" is engraved circularly. The years "1854-1925" (separated by a horizontal line), marking the birth and the death of Anghel Saligny, are placed one beneath the other on the right side of the portrait. The signature of Anghel Saligny is reproduced in facsimile.
The silver coins, encapsulated in transparent plastic cases, are 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 leaflet.
The issue of 500 coins is to be sold on both domestic and foreign markets, and is priced at ROL 810,000 per coin. The cost of the capsules, authentication certificate, and leaflet is included in the above-mentioned price.
The coins will be sold in adequate cases. The price does not include that of the case and the VAT (19 percent).
The silver coins issued by the National Bank of Romania for numismatic purposes may be purchased by natural and 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 of the issue "Anghel Saligny - 150 years from birth" are legal tender in Romania.
The design of the coins 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.
The silver coins of the issue "Anghel Saligny - 150 years from birth", put into circulation for numismatic purposes, are sold through Bucharest, Cluj, Iasi and Timis branches of the National Bank of Romania.