Bulgaria gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878 after a protracted struggle for self determination. Bulgaria was largely influenced by the nearby Russian Empire, and indeed for quite sometime it's paper money was remarkably similar to the Russian and then later USSR banknotes. The Bulgarian Lev had been re-denominated four times during the 20th century, most recently in 1999, when the old Lev was called in and exchanged at a rate of 1000 : 1. The new Lev was pegged to the German Mark, and has remained within a very narrow band ever since 1999. Bulgaria has entered the EU, and hopes to introduce the Euro beginning in 2012. When the currency was redenominated in 1999, a whole new series of banknotes was printed, and new lovely designs, drawing on historical themes, coupled with modern anti-counterfieting measures were released. This 20 Leva note was released in 2005, it is in effect a commemorative note, for the 125th anniversary of the Bulgarian National Bank. Previously Bulgaria had issued paper money with females in the 1951 issue, but I believe they did not want the world to know what is really going on with Bulgarian ladies. Now seemingly they do. For the first time, they depict a woman on their banknote that is representative of what many Bulgarian women look like, attractive and stylish.
if you look t the notes from qatar and kazakhstan and some other hybrid notes you will see its nothing fancy but the note really looks good in person one of my favorite polymers
what i meant is that they have: 1)water marks every where 2)holograms 3)in bedded text 4)color variations that would make the best of the best cringe. and i am sure there are a few i am missing, but yes i totally agree, that is a great looking note, i just wish the US would come up with stuff like that
Countries like Bulgaria, Romania, Australia are at the pinnacle of security in printing notes. The whole ballgame changes dramatically whence you print on polymer substrates. Here is a newer Romanian note: Even images lousy, the printing on the polymer substrate is so fine, that it moires whence imaged with a scanner.
there was a special on TV a few weeks back about ther making of polymer notes... very interesting. I do belive someone posted a link to a UTUBE video of it.. worth the watch! this note is very nicely done! a little busy for me, but still cool looking
