Two thousand lei (Romanian banknote)

Two thousand lei

(Romania)
Value	Romanian leu
Width	142 mm
Height	62 mm
Security features	Transparent window, printed thread, shadow image (BNR), window filter
Paper type	Polymer (plastic)
Years of printing	1999
Obverse
Design	Solar system
Designer	Nicolae Săftoiu
Design date	1999
Reverse
Design	1999 solar eclipse over Romania
Designer	Nicolae Săftoiu
Design date	1999

In celebration of the total solar eclipse of August 11, 1999, the National Bank of Romania (BNR) decided to issue a commemorative two thousand Romanian lei banknote. This was the last solar eclipse of the millennium and was visible across southern Romania. Since it was the last eclipse of the millennium, the denomination was chosen to be 2000 in respect to the upcoming year. These notes were issued as legal tender.

The banknote was designed by Romanian artist Nicolae Săftoiu, who is credited with the designs on which all Romanian banknotes printed since the 1989 Revolution are based. In observance of the upcoming millennium, the obverse of the note displays a rendering of the solar system viewed from afar, showing all of the planets revolving around the Sun.

The reverse of the note displays a map outline of Romania with the colors schemed to match the colors of the Romanian flag. The map marks the main points where the solar eclipse was visible in a path moving along the map from west to east.

The notes were printed using a method of printing known as offset printing. Offset printing is a commonly used printing technique where the inked image is transferred (or "offset") from a plate to a rubber blanket, then finally onto the printing surface.

Security features include:

In order to generate interest with currency collectors, the BNR also issued special commemorative folders with the banknotes. These were limited to 1 million pieces and each one contained a special, low-numbered banknote with the series001A.

Commemorative folder; front side

Folder - inside

Folder - back

...
Wikipedia