Currency in Moldova: history and description

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The currency in Moldova is the leu, which consists of one hundred bani. There are banknotes in denominations of one, five, ten, twenty, fifty, one hundred and two hundred Moldovan lei, as well as coins in denominations of one, five, ten and twenty-five bani.

History of currency

For a long time there was no national currency in Moldova. The Moldavian principality used mainly foreign coins: florins, ducats, zlotys, etc. And in the 17th century, Dutch money with the image of a lion came to the territory of the state. Moldovans called them leys. In the second half of the 19th century, the lei became the national currency of Romania. And in the 90s of the twentieth century, Moldova, which left the USSR, officially declared them to be its own monetary unit.

Protection

Money of Moldova has the following security features:

1. A dark watermark representing Stefan cel Mare. The portrait is directed towards the center and is clearly visible through the light.
2. Security thread "sewn" between the "guilloche" in the center and a decorative vertical strip on the left and viewed through the light.
3. The outer edges of the images of the sun on the face of the banknote and the crescent must overlap on the backon top of each other when viewed through the light. In addition, the rims of the circles, inside which are the sun and the moon, coincide.
4. The letter V on the “face” of the banknote and the image of two columns on its back should form the letter M when viewed through the light.

Exchange features

Currency in Moldova is exchanged without problems. This can be done either in exchange offices or in banks. The exchange rate of the euro, dollar, ruble, etc. is approximately the same everywhere, but there are nuances. In many exchange offices there is a rule that it is valid only if a large amount is changed (equivalent to 100-200 US dollars or more). In other cases, the rate will be underestimated. The client is informed about this in the rules, deliberately written in very small letters. Therefore, it is safer to change currency in banks, although the rate there is usually somewhat lower.

Cash or bank transfer?

Payment with plastic cards is becoming more and more popular in the country. Cash currency in Moldova begins to be gradually replaced. But so far, "live" money still prevails. You can pay by card in new supermarkets, large hotels and shopping centers, in some prestigious restaurants and hotels in the capital.

Currency of Transnistria

The monetary unit of the Pridneprovsk People's Republic is the Pridnestrovian ruble, which consists of one hundred kopecks. This currency is not convertible, it does not go outside the Poland. It is possible to exchange foreign money on the territory of Transnistria, but it is difficult. The rate is constantly changing due to inflation. Cashless payment herealmost impossible, and the system of banknote face value is extremely confusing.