Pursuant to Law No. 312/2004 - 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 has put into circulation starting 8 April 2005 a silver coin with face value of ROL 500 in the issue "125 years since the establishment of the National Bank of Romania".
Characteristics of the coin:
- shape: round;
- weight: 31.103 grams;
- fineness: 999/1000;
- diameter: 37 mm;
- quality: proof;
- edge: smooth.
The obverse: on the left side, the year of issue "2005", Romania's coat-of-arms and the face value "500 LEI". The inscription "ROMANIA" is engraved vertically in the middle. The right side features the first silver coin issued according to the standards of the Latin Union by the National Bank of Romania in 1880, the year of its establishment.
The reverse shows the façade of the Palace of the National Bank of Romania in 25, Lipscani St. The inscriptions "BANCA NAŢIONALĂ A ROMÂNIEI" and the years "1880-2005" are engraved semicircularly on the upper side. The inscription "125 ANI DE LA ÎNFIINŢARE" is engraved on two lines beneath the model of the building.
The silver coins encapsulated in transparent metacrylate are accompanied by an authentication certificate (in Romanian and English) bearing the signatures of both the Governor and the Head Cashier of the National Bank of Romania, as well as by a prospectus.
The coin issue is to be sold both on domestic and foreign markets for ROL 1,000,000, RON 100 respectively, per coin including the cost of the capsules, authentication certificate and prospectus.
The coins may be sold in adequate cases, upon request. The cost of the case and the value added tax of 19 percent are not included in the above-mentioned price.
For numismatic purposes, the silver coins put into circulation by the National Bank of Romania may be purchased both 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 "125 years since the establishment of the National Bank of Romania" are legal tender in Romania.
The design of these 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 National Bank of Romania branches in Bucharest, Cluj, Iaşi and Timiş are in charge of putting the issue "125 years since the establishment of the National Bank of Romania" into circulation for numismatic purposes.