Bessarabia (current-day Moldova) was part of the Russian Empire from 1812 until 1918. In 1918, the Bessarabian legislature voted to become part of Romania. The Moldovan Democratic Republic, founded on February 6, 1918, was incorporated into Romania on April 9, 1918. Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet Union on June 28, 1940 as the Moldovian Soviet Socialist Republic, but when Germany invaded Russia, Moldova was reincorporated into Romania in July 1941. The Soviet Union occupied Moldova in 1944 and it became a de jure part of the Soviet Union on September 15, 1947. Moldova declared its independence from the Soviet Union on August 27, 1991.
The Moldovan National Bank issued banknotes denominated in Ducats (MDD) in the 1850s; however, since Moldova was part of the Russian Empire, Russian Rubles were the main medium of exchange. Paper Assignatzia (Ruble-Banco) also circulated, though usually at a discount to specie money. The monetary system was reformed on July 1, 1839 with 1 Silver Ruble (RUES) set equal to 3.5 Ruble Assignatzia (RUEA). Credit Ruble Banknotes (RUEP) replaced the Ruble Assignatzia on June 1, 1843. Russia went on the Gold Standard on January 3, 1897 and introduced the Gold Ruble, which was used until the outbreak of World War I.
The current territory of Moldova, west of the Dniestr, was part of Romania from 1918 until 1940, and between 1941 and 1944. Consequently, the Romanian Silver Lei (ROS) was used as legal tender during these periods of time. Between June 1940 and July 1941, and from 1944 on, Moldova was part of the Soviet Union, and the Soviet Gold Ruble (SUG) was used as legal tender. After Moldova was reincorporated into the Soviet Union, a New Ruble (SUN) replaced the Gold Ruble on December 29, 1947 at the rate of 1 New Ruble equal to 10 Gold Rubles. On January 1, 1961, the Hard Ruble (SUR) replaced the New Ruble at the rate of 1 Hard Ruble equal to 10 New Rubles. The State Treasury and the State Bank (Gosbank) issued banknotes for the Soviet Union.
After gaining its independence, Moldova replaced the Soviet Ruble with the Moldova Ruble (MDR) at par on May 23, 1991. The Moldova Leu Cupon (MDC) replaced the Moldava Ruble Cupon in June 1992. The Moldova Leu (MDL) replaced the Moldova Leu Cupon on November 29, 1993 at the rate of 1 Leu equal to 1000 Rubles. The Leu is divisible into 100 Bani, and is issued by the Banca Nationala a Moldovei. |
Here is a 1 Leu note dated 1994. The note is brown on ochre, pale yellow-green and multicolored underprint. The obverse features King Stefan (also known as Stephen the Great) to the left, the national coat of arms to the upper right showing the eagle in the circle, and the bank's monogram in the upper right corner. The reverse depicts the Monastary at Capriana (located 40 km north-west of Chisinau, in a hilly land once called Codrii Lapusnei). There is a watermark on this note of King Stefan.
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This 1 Leu note, is dated 2005. The note is brown on ochre, pale yellow-green and multicolored underprint. The obverse features King Stefan (who was Prince of Moldavia between 1457 and 1504) to the left, the national coat of arms to the upper right showing the eagle in the circle, and the bank's monogram in the upper right corner. The reverse depicts the Monastary at Capriana. There is a watermark on this note of King Stefan.
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Here is a 1 Leu note dated 2006. The note is brown on ochre, pale yellow-green and multicolored underprint. The obverse features King Stefan (the most prominent representative of the House of Musat) to the left, the national coat of arms to the upper right showing the eagle in the circle, and the bank's monogram in the upper right corner. The reverse depicts the Monastary at Capriana (located 40 km north-west of Chisinau, in a hilly land once called Codrii Lapusnei). There is a watermark on this note of King Stefan.
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