Romania Hyperinflation Banknotes

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1,000,000 Lei, 1947

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Back

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5,000,000 Lei, 1947

Front

Back

The note is the highest denomination ever issued by Romania.

Front: Women and children at left and right. Wolf nursing Romulus and Remus at center.

Back: Farm wives

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1,000,000 Lei 2003 Polymer

Front

Back

This note is the world's highest denomination polymer plastic banknote.

Front: Ion Luca Caragiale (1852 to 1912), noted author, playwright and short story writer

Back: statue of Caragiale and now demolished national theatre formerly in Bucharest

Back to Hyperinflation Banknotes

As with many other countries in Europe, Romania faced post WWII hyperinflation. The highest denomination before the war was 5,000 Lei. By 1947, it was 5,000,000 Lei.

Romania suffered a second period of hyperinflation from 1996-2005. The highest denomination between 1966 and 1994 was 10,000 Lei. By 2003 it was 1,000,000 Lei. In the 2005 currency reform, 1 Leu was exchanged for 10,000 old Lei. Romania joined the European Union in 2007, and its currency is now pegged to Euro.

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