2012Banknote Portraits - Set

The banknote is a familiar mean of payment in the form of a printed piece of paper issued by a bank. Since the 19th century, the banknotes have been printed on thin, multilayer handling-resistant paper, bearing a watermarked image as a mean of protection against counterfeiting.

After 1980, many countries adopted polymer (polypropylene) banknotes. In 2008, only five countries used such banknotes: Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Romania and Vietnam.

The first polymer banknote issued in Romania (National Bank) was that one of 2,000 Lei, released in 1999 on the occasion of the total solar eclipse on the 11th August, our country being the first country in Europe to put such a banknote into circulation.

Today, all Romanian banknotes in circulation are made of polymer, and each banknote shows the figure of an important personality of the national culture.

For a better knowledge and promotion of the Romanian culture and personalities, Romfilatelia introduces into circulation a new postage stamp issue – “Banknote Portraits”.

On the postage stamp with the face value of lei 0.80 is illustrated the portrait of Nicolae Iorga (1871-1940), a famous Romanian historian, literary critic, playwright, poet, encyclopaedist, memorialist, minister, professor and academician (1 Leu banknote).

On the postage stamp with the face value of lei 1.40 is illustrated the portrait of George Enescu (1881-1955), Romanian composer known worldwide, violinist, pianist and conductor, considered to be the most important Romanian musician (5 Lei banknote).

On the postage stamp with the face value of lei 2.10 is reproduced the portrait of Nicolae Grigorescu (1838-1907), the founder of the Romanian modern painting, who received the title of Romanian Academy Member in 1899 (10 Lei banknote).

On the postage stamp with the face value of lei 2.40 is illustrated the portrait of Aurel Vlaicu (1882-1913), the pioneer of Romanian and world aviation, builder of flying devices and pilot (50 Lei banknote).

On the postage stamp with the face value of 3.00 lei is reproduced the portrait of Ion Luca Caragiale (1852-1912). He was and is recognized as the greatest Romanian playwright. His work is famous due to the comedies he wrote, which still continue to be in the pipeline (100 Lei banknote).

On the postage stamp with the face value of lei 3.10 is reproduced the portrait of Lucian Blaga (1895-1961), Romanian philosopher, poet, playwright, translator, journalist, professor and diplomat (200 Lei banknote).

On the postage stamp with the face value of lei 6.00 is illustrated the portrait of Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889), unanimously recognized as the greatest poet of Romanians (500 Lei banknote).

The philatelic document is created into a limited edition of 230 copies, equipped with the postage stamps of the issue, numbered and cancelled with the “first day” postmark.