Romania — 10 Lei 2018

A modern polymer banknote with a denomination of 10 lei, introduced into circulation on 1 January 2018 by the National Bank of Romania (Banca Națională a României) as part of an updated series featuring the restored crowned eagle in the national coat of arms (according to the 2016 law). This is the first polymer version of the denomination with the updated coat of arms, retaining the previous design but with improved security features and enhanced material durability.

The obverse features a portrait of Nicolae Grigorescu (famous 19th-century Romanian painter, one of the founders of modern Romanian painting) on the right, a painter’s palette with brushes in the center as a registration device, and hollyhock flowers and the BNR monogram on the left. The main colors are orange, pink, and yellow with multicolored elements. Inscriptions are in Romanian.

The reverse shows a traditional rural house in the Oltenia region in the center, a girl with a jug on the left (detail from Grigorescu’s painting “Rodica”), with background elements of rural life and nature. Multicolor printing emphasizes pink, orange, and yellow tones. The design highlights Grigorescu’s contribution to Romanian culture, folk traditions, and connection to national art.

Among the security features:

• transparent window in the shape of the painter’s palette with brushes (with metallic effect and the number “10”)
• simulated security thread (nearly 2 mm wide, visible when held to light)
• watermark — portrait of Nicolae Grigorescu and BNR monogram
• microtext, complex background ornaments, and holographic elements
• fluorescent features: “10” block and serial numbers glow under UV light
• tactile elements for visually impaired

The banknote is of interest to collectors specializing in modern polymer issues of Europe, 21st-century Romanian notaphily, themes of national artists, and series transitioning to a polymer substrate.