4418) Carol I (1839 – 1914) the First King of Romania: "The Coins of Romania Coin Series": First Coin in the Series minted by the "Monetăria Statului" ("Romanian State Mint") on behalf of the National Bank of Romania (NBA): The Historic Coin is a replica of 1880 Silver Coin: Date/Year of Coin issue: 16.03.2026:
The National Bank of Romania has begun its - "The Coins of Romania Series" highlighting its historic numismatic classics.
The first coin in the Coin Series features one of the countries’ most recognised and admired Silver Coins - the 5 Lei crown-size piece dated 1880.
This was the last year which Romania’s coinage included the designation of the Prince for the Ruler’s coinage.
About Carol I (born Karl Eitel Friedrich) - 1839 - 1914):
Carol I (1839 – 1914) was the first King of Romania whose long reign as prince from 1866 until recognised as King in 1881 brought notable military and economic development to this largely rural Balkan country.
Born a German prince from the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Karl Eitel Friedrich was educated in Dresden and Bonn and served as an officer of the Prussian army.
After the deposition of Romania’s reigning prince, Alexandru Cuza in February 1866, Prince Karl was elected to replace him in April that same year by parliamentary plebiscite and officially offered the throne of Romania.
Before the invitation to become the country’s monarch, the 27-year old German Prince had never even heard of Romania and was scarcely familiar with Balkan political affairs.
As France was a crucial diplomatic supporter of Romanian autonomy, the approval of Paris was needed for Prince Karl to accept the offer, which was granted with the firm approval of his cousin, the French emperor Napoleon III.
He was recognised as a Sovereign Prince of Romania as the country had not yet achieved independence as a kingdom from the Ottoman Empire.
The State of Romania comprised both the principalities of Walachia and Moldavia which in 1877 proclaimed their full independence from the Ottoman Empire, marking the end of formal suzerainty.
The first coins minted during the initial years of Prince Carol’s rule were produced at the Bucharest Mint and dated 1867 with small denominations depicting the new royal crest on the obverse.
As Romania was a member of the Latin Monetary Union (LMU), the coins were minted under the same specifications as the coinage of Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, all were freely interchangeable.
The first gold and silver coins to include an effigy of Carol I were dated 1868 and 1870 which denoted him as "Domnul Romaniei" (or, "Prince of the Realm).
Coinage denoting Carol I as King was first minted in 1881 with the legend "Rege al Romaniei" (meaning - "King of Romania") and with an effigy engraved by Friedrich Wilhelm Kullrich whose last name appears below the portrait.
King Carol I passed away after a reign of 48 years and was succeeded by his nephew Prince Ferdinand, son of Carol I’s elder brother Prince Leopold.
The Silver Coin:
The Silver Proof Coins have been minted by the "Monetăria Statului" ("Romanian State Mint") at their facilities in Bucharest on behalf of the National Bank of Romania (NBA).
The coin is a faithful replica of the designs seen on the 5 Lei silver coins dated 1880.
The Reverse of the 5 Lei Silver Proof Coin depicts the crowned Royal Coat of Arms of Romania in the centre.
Below the crest is the motto "NIHIL SINE DEO" (meaning - "Nothing without God").
Above the crest and along the periphery is the name of the country - "ROMANIA" and below is the original year of issue, "1880" along the bottom periphery.
The coins’ denomination is shown with the numeral "5" placed to the left of the crest and the letter "L" shown on the right representing the Lei currency.
Along the lower left periphery is the mintmark "B" (denoting the Bucharest Mint) and on the opposite side, is a "wheat stalk privymark".
The primary design is surrounded by a beaded border encircling the circumference of the coin.
The Obverse of the 5 Lei Silver Proof Coin depicts an effigy of Prince Carol I facing to the left.
The legend around the Prince’s effigy reads - "CAROL I DONMUL ROMANIEI".
Below the King’s effigy is the name of the engraver "KULLRICH" and just to the left is the letter "R" denoting the coin is a modern replica.
The primary design is surrounded by a beaded border encircling the circumference of the coin.
The specifications of this Silver Coin are:
Denomination Metal Weight Diameter Quality Mintage Limit
5 Lei .999 Silver 31.1 g. 37 mm. Proof 1000 pieces
- Available from the 16th March, each coin is encapsulated and accompanied with a certificate of authenticity written in Romanian, English and French and containing the signatures of the NBR governor and the central cashier.
- The Coins are available directly through the Bucharest, Cluj, Iasi, and Timişoara regional branches of the National Bank of Romania.
17) Institute of Speleology (Study of Caves) "Emil Racovita", Romania: A Century of Research (1920-2020): A set of four stamps issued by Romfilatelia (Romanian Post) featuring representative images of Caves of Romania which are of great importance for Speleological Research & Activity: Date of Stamp set issue: 18.06.2020
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