Pursuant to the provisions of Law No. 312/2004 – the Statute of the National Bank of Romania, on 23 April 2012, the National Bank of Romania will put into circulation, for numismatic purposes, a silver coin dedicated to the anniversary of 150 years since the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The silver coin has the following characteristics:
- Face value: lei 10
- Metal: silver
- Fineness: 999‰
- Shape: round
- Diameter: 37 mm
- Weight: 31.103 g
- Quality: proof
- Edge: milled
Obverse: the coat of arms of Romania and the year of issue, the portraits of Apostol Arsache - the first Minister of Foreign Affairs and Alexandru Ioan Cuza - during whose ruling period the ministry was established, the inscriptions “APOSTOL ARSACHE” and “ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA”, the name of the country and the face value “10 LEI”.
Reverse: the image of the Sturdza Palace, the former headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the motto of the ministry “SEMPER FIDELIS PATRIAE” and the inscription “150 ANI”; on the outer ring of the coin, the inscription “MINISTERUL AFACERILOR EXTERNE” in an arc.
The silver coins are housed in transparent plastic capsules and are accompanied by leaflets featuring a presentation of the numismatic issue in Romanian, English and French.
The leaflets come with a certificate of authenticity bearing the signatures of both the Governor and the Chief Cashier of the National Bank of Romania.
The mintage of this numismatic issue is 500.
The selling price per silver coin, the leaflet included, is lei 345.00 excluding VAT.
The silver coins in the numismatic issue for the anniversary of 150 years since the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are legal tender on the territory of Romania.
The collector silver coins will be put into circulation through the branches of the National Bank of Romania in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iaşi and Timişoara.