Principality of Romania (1866-1881), Kingdom of Romania (1881-1947), Romanian People's Republic (1947-1965), Socialist Republic of Romania (1965-1989), Romania (1989-present)
Country in Eastern Europe
Location: Northeast Balkans
Capital City: Bucharest
Government type: Constitutional Monarchy (1866-1937, 1944-1947), Absolute Monarchy (1937-1940), Constitutional Monarchy under a Fascist Military Dictatorship (1940-1944), Communist Republic (1947-1989), Republic (1989-present)
Main languages: Romanian, Hungarian
Main religions: Orthodox Christianity
Chronology
1866: The Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia, in personal union since 1859, are united into a single nation
1866-1877: Nominal Ottoman vassal
1881: Prince elevated to King
1916-1918: Austro-Hungarian/Bulgarian/Ottoman Occupation
1940: Iron Guard Party under Ion Antonescu siezes control, deposes King Carol II, and establishes military dictatorhsip
1944: King Mihai I stages a coup against the Iron Guard, deposing Antonescu and bringing Romania into the Allies
1944-1947: Soviet Occupation
1947: King Mihai forced to abdicate at gunpoint, Soviets install communist puppet regime
1964: Romania has a split with the Soviet Union and drifts out of the USSR's sphere of influence
1989: Communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu deposed and executed by Romanian anti-communist resistance of the National Salvation Front, establishing a multiparty democratic republic.
Currency
First Leu (1867-1947)
1 Leu = 100 Bani
Second Leu (1947-1952)
1 Leu = 100 Bani
Third Leu (1952-2005)
1 Leu = 100 Bani
Fourth Leu (2005-present)
1 Leu = 100 Bani
Note: Carol I is given two sets of reign years, one as prince and one as king.
Coins from Romania in the collection
Principality (1866-1881)
•10 Ban, 1867 (Prince Carol I (1866-1881), copper, James Watt & Co. (Smethwick), KM#4)
Kingdom (1881-1947)
•5 Ban, 1906 (King Carol I (1881-1914), cupronickel, Brussels mint, KM#31)
•10 Ban, 1905 (King Carol I (1881-1914), cupronickel, Brussels mint, KM#32)
•50 Ban, 1910 (King Carol I (1881-1914), silver (.835), Hamburg mint, KM#41)
•1 Leu, 1924 (King Ferdinand I (1914-1927), cupronickel, Brussels mint, KM#46)
•1 Leu, 1924 (King Ferdinand I (1914-1927), cupronickel, Société Française de Monnayage (Poissy), KM#46)
•2 Leu, 1924 (King Ferdinand I (1914-1927), cupronickel, Société Française de Monnayage (Poissy), KM#47)
•5 Leu, 1883 (King Carol I (1881-1914), silver (.900), Bucharest mint, KM#17.1)
•5 Leu, 1942 (King Mihai I (1940-1947), zinc, Berlin mint, KM#61)
•50 Leu, 1937 (King Carol II (1930-1940), nickel, Bucharest mint, KM#55)
•500 Leu, 1944 (King Mihai I (1940-1947), silver (.700), Berlin mint, KM#65)
Communist Republic (1947-1989)
•5 Ban, 1975 (aluminum, Bucharest mint, KM#92a)
•15 Ban, 1966 (nickel-plated steel, Bucharest mint, KM#93)
•15 Ban, 1975 (aluminum, Bucharest mint, KM#93a)
•25 Ban, 1966 (nickel-plated steel, Bucharest mint, KM#94)
•1 Leu, 1963 (nickel-plated steel, Bucharest mint, KM#90)
•1 Leu, 1966 (nickel-plated steel, Bucharest mint, KM#95)
•3 Leu, 1963 (nickel-plated steel, Bucharest mint, KM#91)
•3 Leu, 1966 (nickel-plated steel, Bucharest mint, KM#96)
•5 Leu, 1978 (aluminum, Bucharest mint, KM#97)
Republic (1989-present)
•5 Leu, 1992 (nickel-plated steel, Bucharest mint, KM#114)
•10 Leu, 1993 (nickel-plated steel, Bucharest mint, KM#116)
•10 Leu, 1995 (nickel-plated steel, KM#117.1) Commemorative: FAO
•100 Leu, 1992 (nickel-plated steel, Bucharest mint, KM#111)
•500 Leu, 1999 (aluminum, Bucharest mint, KM#145)
•1,000 Leu, 2001 (aluminum-magnesium, Bucharest mint, KM#153)
•1,000 Leu, 2004 (aluminum-magnesium, Bucharest mint, KM#153)
•5,000 Leu, 2002 (aluminum-magnesium, KM#158)
•5 Ban, 2011 (copper-plated steel, KM#190)
•10 Ban, 2007 (nickel-plated steel, KM#191)
•50 Ban, 2005 (nickel brass, KM#192)
•50 Ban, 2006 (nickel brass, KM#192)
Coins from Romania in the collection
Kingdom (1881-1947)
•1 Leu, 1914 (King Ferdinand I (1914-1927), P#M3) Central Powers Occupation
•100 Leu, 1945 (King Mihai I (1940-1947), P#78)
•5,000 Leu, 1943 (King Mihai I (1940-1947), P#55)
Communist Republic (1947-1989)
•5 Leu, 1966 (P#93)
•25 Leu, 1966 (P#95)
Republic (1989-present)
•1,000 Leu, 1993 (P#102)
•2,000 Leu, 1999 (P#111)
•10,000 Leu, 2000 (P#112)
•1 Leu, 2005 (P#117)