Moldovan leu

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Moldovan leu
leu moldovenesc (Moldovan)
молдавский лей (Russian)

1 Leu note obverse and reverse

ISO 4217 Code MDL

User(s) Moldova except Transnistria

Inflation 12.8%

Source The World Factbook, 2006 est.

Subunit

1/100 ban

Plural lei

ban bani

Coins 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 bani

Banknotes 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 lei

Central bank

National Bank of Moldova

Website www.bnm.org

The leu (ISO 4217 code MDL) is the currency of Moldova. Like the Romanian leu, the Moldovan leu (pl. lei) is subdivided into 100 bani (singular: ban). The name of the currency originates in Romania and means "lion".

1 History
2 Coins
3 Banknotes
4 Unofficial currencies
5 External links

[edit] History

Between 1918 and 1940 and again between 1941 and 1944, when Moldova was part of Romania, the Romanian leu was used also in the eastern part of Moldavia. The Moldovan leu was established on 29 November 1993, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the creation of the independent Republic of Moldova. It replaced the older cupon currency at a rate of 1 leu = 1000 cupon.

In Transnistria, an unrecognised break-away republic from Moldova, Transnistrian ruble is used instead.

[edit] Coins

Coins consist of 1, 5, 10, and 25 bani in aluminium and 50 bani in aluminium-bronze. 50 bani, 1 and 5 leu coins were issued in stainless steel in 1993 but have been withdrawn from circulation.

[edit] Banknotes

There have been two series of Moldovan leu banknotes. The first series was short-lived and only included 1, 5, and 10 lei.

Second Series
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Colour	Description			Date of
Obverse	Reverse	Value	Dimensions	Main Colour	Obverse	Reverse	Watermark	first printing	issue
[1]	[2]	1 leu	114 × 58 mm	Yellow	Stephen III	Mănăstirea Căpriana	As portrait	1994	May 1994
[3]	[4]	5 lei	114 × 58 mm	Blue		Biserica sf. Dumitru din Orhei			April 1994
[5]	[6]	10 lei	121 × 61 mm	Red		Mănăstirea Hîrjauca			May 1994
[7]	[8]	20 lei		Lime		Cetatea Soroca		1992	November 1993
[9]	[10]	50 lei		Pink		Mănăstirea Hîrbovăţ			May 1994
[11]	[12]	100 lei		Orange		Cetatea Tighina			September 1995
[13]	[14]	200 lei	133 × 66 mm	Pink and yellow		Chişinău Mayoralty			September 1995
[15]	[16]	500 lei		Orange and green		Chişinău Cathedral			December 1999
[17]	[18]	1000 lei		Purple		Former Parliament building			October 2003
For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

[edit] Unofficial currencies

A second, unofficial currency in Moldova is the United States dollar. After the creation of the European Union, the third, unofficial currency became the Euro. These currency rates are strongly influenced by the political and economical instability of Moldova.

Current MDL exchange rates

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[edit] External links

Preceded by: Moldovan cupon Reason: inflation Ratio: 1 leu = 1000 cupon	Currency of Moldova 1993 –	Succeeded by: Current

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