Reigns (1866-1947) Coin List
The period of the Reigns in Romania from 1866 to 1947 was a time of great political and economic changes that were reflected in the country's numismatics. During these years, Romania underwent a significant transformation from a principality to a kingdom, which directly influenced the design and minting of its coins.
The reign of Carol I and the first Romanian coins
The reign of Carol I, which lasted from 1866 to 1914, marked the beginning of Romania's monetary modernization. In 1867, the leu was introduced as the national monetary unit, replacing the various foreign currencies circulating in the territory. The first modern Romanian coins were minted in 1867, with denominations ranging from 1 ban to 20 lei. These pieces featured the portrait of Prince Carol I on the obverse and the Romanian coat of arms on the reverse. With the proclamation of the Kingdom of Romania in 1881, the coins were updated to reflect the country's new status, incorporating the royal crown into the designs. During this period, Romania also issued high-quality gold coins, such as the 20 lei pieces, which became coveted collector's items.
The era of Ferdinand I and Carol II: monetary changes and challenges
The reign of Ferdinand I (1914-1927) and later Carol II (1930-1940) brought new economic challenges and changes in Romanian numismatics. During World War I, coin production was affected, and emergency banknotes were issued to cope with the cash shortage. In the interwar period, new denominations and designs were introduced, most notably commemorative coins celebrating national milestones. Carol II's reign saw the issuance of coins bearing her effigy, including high-quality silver pieces. However, the economic crisis of the 1930s and political instability led to fluctuations in the value of the leu and changes in the coins' metallic composition. The brief reign of Michael I (1927-1930 and 1940-1947) marked the end of the monarchical era in Romanian numismatics, with limited issues due to World War II and the subsequent transition to communist rule.
The most valuable and popular coins
The most valuable Reigns (1866-1947) coins and sought after by collectors according to Foronum statistics are the following:
The valuation of these coins list has been achieved through a meticulous algorithm that considers the current market, taking into account aspects such as material, weight, diameter, edge, year of mintage, mint of manufacture and the number of coins produced. Coins with limited mintages and in good condition are usually among the most valuable.
Old coins of Romania
To facilitate their classification, we have decided to organise the coins according to their historical period, you can consult the coins by historical numismatic categories of Romania.
Reigns 1866-1947 Monetary Reform 1947-1947 People's Republic 1947-1952 Monetary Reform 1952-1966 Socialist Republic 1966-1992 Current Republic 1992-2005 Monetary Reform 2006-?Coin Catalog
Rumania | 1 banu
Rumania | 1 banu
Rumania | 2 bani
Rumania | 2 bani
Rumania | 5 bani
Rumania | 5 bani
Rumania | 10 bani
Rumania | 10 bani
Rumania | 1 leu (Carol I)
Rumania | 2 bani (Carol I)
Rumania | 2 bani (Carol I)
Rumania | 5 lei (Carol I)
Rumania | 1 leu (Carol I)
Rumania | 5 lei (Carol I)
Rumania | 5 lei (Carol I)
Rumania | 2 bani (Carol I)
Rumania | 5 bani (Carol I)
Rumania | 20 lei (Carol I)
Rumania | 50 bani (Carol I)
Rumania | 50 bani (Carol I)
Rumania | 1 leu (Carol I)
Rumania | 2 lei (Carol I)
Rumania | 1 ban (Carol I)
Rumania | 2 bani (Carol I)
Rumania | 5 bani (Carol I)
Other resources to find coins and banknotes of Romania
Can't find what you are looking for? Take a look at our coin finder and speed up your searches within the collections of all collectors, or if you prefer you can search directly in the list of coin collectors and access their profile to see their collections.