Pursuant to the provisions of Law No. 312/2004 - The Statute of the National Bank of Romania, as from 22 January 2007, the NBR is to launch a gold coin with face value of RON 500 dedicated to Nicolae Bălcescu, an outstanding figure of the Revolution of 1848 in Wallachia.
Characteristics of the coin:
- shape: round;
- fineness: 999/1000;
- quality: proof;
- weight: 31.103 grams;
- diameter: 35 mm;
- edge: ridged.
Obverse: in the upper part, Romania's coat of arms, with the years "1848" - year of the Revolution and "2007" - year of issue, to the left and to the right respectively; above, the inscription "ROMANIA"; in the lower part, the face value of "500 LEI" and beneath the inscription "DREPTATE SI FRATIE" (JUSTICE AND BROTHERHOOD), the watchword of Frăţia fellowship.
Reverse: in the middle, the portrait of Nicolae Bălcescu, with the years of his birth and death "1819" and "1852" to his left and to his right respectively; below the portrait, the inscription "NICOLAE BALCESCU".
Each gold coin is encapsulated in a transparent plastic case and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity (in Romanian and English), bearing the signature of both Governor and Head Cashier, as well as by a prospectus.
The issue of 250 coins is to be sold at a price of RON 2,470 per coin (VAT excluded), which does not include the cost of the case.
The gold coins dedicated to Nicolae Bălcescu 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 National Bank of Romania branches in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iaşi and Timişoara are in charge of putting into circulation for numismatic purposes the gold coins in the issue dedicated to Nicolae Bălcescu.