Romania.

I wonder how many coins that guy, can't remember his name, who's on CoinTalk and is the Guiness Book of World Records has?

 

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Interesting collection, I have them all except the first coin. Some corrections from a historical point of view.
Obviously Romania became independent in 1877 (the last independence, because were several principles that have obtained temporary independent from The Ottoman Empire, during the time), but I would not put such a great emphasis on "the Russian help".


On 4 (old style) / April 16 (new style) 1877 the United Principalities of Romania and the Russian Empire signed the Treaty from Bucharest allowing the Russian troops to cross the country in there way to the Balkans, under one condition namely the respecting of the territorial integrity of Romania.
In response to Romanian-Russian cooperation, the Ottoman Empire began a series of actions as the suspension of some Romanian diplomats from Constantinople, the seizure of Romanian ships loaded with grain from Constantinople,the bombing of the cities Braila and Reni, attacking of some border pickets and others. Romanian War Minister Alexander Cerna ordered in this case the Romanian troops to retaliate strongly against any attempt to cross the Danube by the Ottoman. And the parliament declared the countries independence.
Romanian army ensured the safety crossing of the Danube of the Russians by bombing the Ottoman positions in 14 /16 June
Czarist army suffers huge losses, and in July when the war reached a critical moment, the Grand Duke Nicholas, commander of Russian troops send an encrypted telegram in which he asks Carol I of Romania to quickly intervene crossing the Danube "where he wants" for changing the balance of the forces.
Carol I send 43,414 soldiers, 7,170 horses, 110 guns see video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c73uIWF6PyU
Romania obtain her independence from the Ottoman by fighting alongside Russia, but at the end of war Russia occupies Romania`s Cahul, Bolgrad & Ismail counties in exchange for the recognition of the independence & the Dobruja possession.

As the Nazis, the king had nothing to do wit that, Romania had alliances with France and England, after Russia occupied Bessarabia since any allies did not intervene, the head of state Marshal Ion Antonescu has opted for Nazi Germany who promised Bessarabia back.

Now on the Independence, in 1998 The Romanian state has issued a commemorative coin with circular power, made of pure silver, professional in number of 5000 pieces, all in a box whit BNR logo (Banca Nationala a Romaniei/National Bank of Romania) and accompanied by a numbered certificate.

 

King Michael of Romania is the last surviving head of state who ruled his country during WWII. He is also the last surviving recipient of the "Order of Victory" given by Josef Stalin for his role in overthrowing the fascist Antonescu government.

 

Bulgarian tsar Simeon III (1943-1946) is still living too.:smile

 

And he even got back into the government business, sort of: About ten years ago he became the Bulgarian prime minister for a couple of years, with his "civil" name Simeon Sakskoburggotski. But if you take the last name apart, you can still see Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha.

Christian

 

One of the most interesting Romanian coins was issued in May 9, 1999, whit the occasion of the first visit of a Pope(John Paul II) to a majority Orthodox country.

The Romanian state issued thentwo coins:
A) one whit the nominal value of 1,000 lei made of 24 carat pure gold (999/1000), 31 grams 1000 pieces
B) & one whit the nominal value of 100 lei made of 925/1000 pure silver, 27 grams, 2000 piecese.

A)


B)


The coins are placed in a special box and accompanied by a numbered certificate.
According to a Romanian site similar whit ebay only the gold coin, is sold between 1800 & 2000 Euro. But I have not seen anyone selling the whole collection
The coin value increased after the death of Pope, and after the death Patriarch of Romania, and is expected to double if Pope John Paul II will be declared saint.
I hold the both coins + the two "First Day of Issue Cover" (limited edition) and 1 philatelic colitis, issued on this occasion by the Romanian state.

Is the collection that I am thinking to sell, but still not sure. (http://www.cointalk.com/t207941/)

More info:
http://romaniancoins.org/100lei1999papa.html

 

He is younger, but was not adult ruler of country during the war - in fact he was only 6-8 yrs old then. It is said his father King Boris was killed on orders of Adolf Hitler because he was alleged to be negotiating with USSR.

 

The original family name of "House of Windsor" is Saxe Coburg Gotha, name changed in 1917 to make British royal family more "English" sounding.

 

The 500 Lei "Total Solar Eclipse" coin was issued to celebrate the total solar eclipse that took place on August 11th 1999. This eclipse was visible from the Romanian territory and was known as "the last eclipse of the millennium" This is the only homage, anniversary or "special" romanian coin to go into circulation since 1906. The coin was issued only in the year 1999. There were two series of "Total Solar Eclipse" coins: a normal one issued in an mintage of 4.000.000 coins, and one professional made, issued in on mintage of 3.000 coins.




See more info:
http://romaniancoins.org/500leieclipsa.html

 

Yes, that one I have too. An aluminum coin but a fairly thick one, and it feels heavier than most other "alu" coins I know. Yes, it is sad that Romania rarely issues circulating commems, but once in a while there is one. Such as the 50 bani coins issued in 2010/11 (Aviation, Mircea) ...

Another thing that I find strange (let me vent a little ) is that the circulation coins issued since 2005 are fairly bland, and the collector coins - while some of them have great designs - usually have extremely low mintages. Often 500 pieces only, sometimes 1000 but rarely more.

Christian

 

I agree with your vent! At least the banknotes in polymer are attractive while the new circulation coins are lousy. Seeing some of the older 1 and 2 lei coins from early last century in this thread only confirmed for me that I need to add in Romania to my list of pursuits.

 

Interestingly, today just happened to buy a Coke and to receive as change the 50 bani coin issued in 2011
This coin is in fact an experiment. Romania prepares to join the Euro currency, and in that moment Romania will have the right to have a representative picture on the 50 cents coin.
Therefore the Romanian National Bank, will issue each year a version of the " romanien 50 cents" with a Romanian personality on the back.
So when the transition to the euro will happen, the National Bank, will have an idea which version of the " romanien 50 cents" proposed, was best received.



So tomorrow I have to go to the bank, and to change a minimum of 10 of these coins

 

The 50 bani coin issued in 2011

General Description: Mircea the Elder 1386-1418
Mintage: 5,000,000
Diameter: 23.75 mm.
Thickness: 1.90 mm.
Weight: 6.1000 g
Material: Copper-Nickel-Zinc
Mint: Romania - Bucharest
Type: plain with inscription
Edge inscription: ROMANIA ROMANIA
Catalog prices: UNC $ 0.25
---

The man honored on this coin:
Mircea the Elder
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mircea_I_of_Wallachia
And one of his famous battles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rovine

 

Welcome & look forward to your posts at CT

Hello Vyck,

I am glad that I was subscribed to this thread so that I saw your posts on Romania coins. Welcome to the CoinTalk forum. I visited Romania a couple years ago & I did not have much success finding collector coins during my visit. Most of my Romania coins have been purchased from coin dealers in the USA.

 

In recent years a fair is held weekly, in the yard of the history museum "Sutu".
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Palatul_Sutu_-_Poarta.jpg
It is not a fair dedicated to coins, but coins can be found here.

 

As for that euro transition, weeelll ... (Imagine a long sigh here.) But regardless of which currency you have/will have, that is a good idea. Especially if it means having "special" circulation coins or circulating commems. The Mircea coin sure is a good design, particularly the portrait side.

Christian

 

And as promised, today I was at the bank.

 

Thanks Vyck for making us all liars about current Romanian coins being boring. :yes: I really like these new 50 Bani coins, the Vlaicu goes well with the banknote with him on it. I am going to have to get some of those, particularly the Vlaicu piece because I collect aviation themed numismatic items.

 

Those sure look good - my comment about bland designs was regarding the circulation pieces only. Yes, I will get those two as well, especially now that Vyck told us there will/may be other issues later.

I would gladly get those, or swap, except that from my experience the shipping cost often make such deals less attractive for both ...

Christian

 

Here are a couple chips (exonumia) from the Olympic Casino in Romania. I've thrown in a couple tourist photos as well. :smile