The National Bank of Moldova on June 27 opened public consultations with the people on the future design of the 1 leu and 2 lei coins after announcing the intention to put a new coin, of 2 lei, into circulation and to replace the 1 leu bill with a 1 leu coin two weeks ago. The announcement about the consultations was made by the vice governor of the National Bank Ion Sturzu in a press briefing, IPN reports.
According to the vice governor, the 1 leu bill will circulate in parallel with the 1 leu coin until the stores are used up. The 1 leu bill is no longer efficient as it lost its initial value. “Twenty years ago these bills met the requirements, but now they are outdated. The international practice shows we need a rebranding once in ten years. These banknotes were put into circulation 25 years ago,” stated Ion Sturzu.
Until August 4, those who want can think up a design for the 1 leu and 2 lei coins and send it to the mail address of the National Bank of Moldova: Republic of Moldova, MD-2005, Chisinau, 1 Grigore Vieru Blvd. “When the deadline expires, a commission will choose the best six designs and the authors will be awarded,” said the vice governor.
The first prize will be a silver coin with the words “20 years of the introduction of the national currency in the Republic of Moldova”, the second prize – a silver coin “1 900 years of the inauguration of the Trajan’s Colum”, while the third prize – a coin “Soroca Fortress”.
