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 will issue starting 19 April 2004 a gold coin with face value of ROL 5.000 to commemorate "500 years from the death of prince Ştefan cel Mare".
Characteristics of the coins are the following:
- shape: round;
- metal: gold,
- fineness: 999/1000;
- quality: proof;
- weight: 31.103 grams;
- edge: smooth;
- diameter: 35 mm.
The obverse displays a graphic composition showing a semicircular tower of a fortress in the lower part, with a crenellated upper part and fortifications shaped as parallel horizontal bars. The great signet of prince Ştefan cel Mare is placed in the centre of the composition.
The composition also shows Moldova's coat-of-arms, the inscription "ROMANIA", the year of issue "2004" and the face value "5 000 LEI". The face value is placed between two floral adornments.
The reverse shows the portrait of Ştefan cel Mare. The model and name of the church of Putna monastery, where the prince is buried, are shown in the background.
The inscription "500 DE ANI DE LA MOARTEA LUI ŞTEFAN CEL MARE' is engraved circularly. Next to the prince's portrait, the years "1504-2004" marking half of a millennium from the death of Ştefan cel Mare are inscribed one beneath the other.
The gold coins, encapsulated in transparent plastic cases, are accompanied by an authentication certificate (in Romanian and English) bearing the signature of both Governor and Head Cashier, as well as by a leaflet.
The issue of 250 coins is to be sold on both domestic and foreign markets, and is priced at ROL 18,900,000 per coin. The cost of the capsules, authentication certificate and leaflet are included in the above-mentioned price.
On request, the coins may be sold in adequate boxes. The cost of the boxes and the value added tax of 19 percent are not included in the price.
For numismatic purposes, the gold coins put into circulation by the National Bank of Romania 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 gold coins of the issue "500 years from the death of prince Ştefan cel Mare" are legal tender in Romania.
The design of the pieces is protected by registration with the Romanian State Office for Inventions and Trademarks. Forgery or counterfeiting of these coins is an infringement of the law and shall be penalised accordingly.
The gold coins of the issue "500 years from the death of prince Ştefan cel Mare", put into circulation for numismatic purposes, are sold through Bucharest, Cluj, Iaşi and Timiş branches of the National Bank of Romania.