2000 Lei 1999. The Solar eclipse of 11 August 1999, Romania
| in Krause book | Number: 111 |
| Years of issue: | 02.08.1999 |
| Edition: | Prefix 001A in booklets - 1000000 |
| Signatures: | Guvernator: Prof. univ. Dr. Mugur Constantin Isarescu, Casier Central: Ionel Nitu |
| Serie: | Commemorative issue |
| Specimen of: | 1999 |
| Material: | Polymer |
| Size (mm): | 120 х 62 |
| Printer: | Note Printing Australia, Craigieburn, Melbourne |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
The BNR logo. This image can be seen when the banknote is held to the light and is embedded into the plastic note.
Avers:
The obverse of the note displays a rendering of the solar system viewed from afar, showing all of the planets revolving around the Sun. Also - the sun eclipse.
This banknote is made from polymer substrate. On the occasion of the Total Eclipse of the Sun (11th August 1999) and Entering the New Millennium, the National Bank of Romania issued the Lei 2000 note, the first polymer-based note in Europe and in the northern hemisphere.
A total solar eclipse occurred on 11 August 1999 with an eclipse magnitude of 1.029. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun's, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness. Totality occurs in a narrow path across Earth's surface, with the partial solar eclipse visible over a surrounding region thousands of kilometres wide. The path of the Moon's shadow began in the Atlantic Ocean and, before noon, was traversing the southern United Kingdom, northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, southern Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, and northern FR Yugoslavia (Vojvodina). The eclipse's maximum was at 11:03 UTC at 45.1°N 24.3°E in Romania (next to a town called Ocnele Mari near Râmnicu Vâlcea); and it continued across Bulgaria, the Black Sea, Turkey, northeastern tip of Syria, northern Iraq, Iran, southern Pakistan and Srikakulam in India and ended in the Bay of Bengal.
It was the first total eclipse visible from Europe since 22 July 1990, and the first visible in the United Kingdom since 29 June 1927. 
Coat of arms of Romania is in top left corner.
The coat of arms of Romania was adopted in the Romanian Parliament on 10 September 1992 as a representative coat of arms for Romania. It is based on the Lesser Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Romania (used between 1922 and 1947), redesigned by Victor Dima. As a central element it shows a golden aquila holding a cross in its beak and a mace and a sword in its claws. It also consists of the three colors: red, yellow, and blue, which represent the colors of the national flag.
Azure, an eagle displayed Or beaked and taloned Gules holding in its beak an Orthodox Cross Or, in its dexter talon a sword, and in its sinister talon a mace Argent. An inescutcheon Quarterly:
I, Azure, an eagle displayed Or beaked and taloned Gules holding in its beak an Orthodox Cross Or, between in dexter chief a bezant and in sinister chief an increscent Or (for Wallachia)
II, gules, a bull's head caboshed Argent, between in dexter base a rose and in sinister base a decrescent Argent; between the Bull's horns, a mullet Or (for Moldavia)
III, Gules, issuant from water Azure in base a bridge of two arches embattled from which is issuant a lion rampant Or brandishing a sabre proper (for Oltenia and Banat)
IV, Per fess Azure and Or, a bar Gules issuant therefrom an eagle displayed between in sinster chief a decrescent Argent and in dexter chief a bezant; in base seven castles Gules (for Transylvania)
Entree en point, Gules, two dolphins urinant respectant Or (for Dobrogea).
Denominations in numerals are in top left and lower right corners. In words at the bottom.
Revers:
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.
Inscription on right side: "Falsificarea acestor bilete se pedepseste conform legilor".
In English: "Counterfeiting of these banknotes is punishable by law".
Logo of the Romanian bank is in top right corner.
Denominations in numerals are on the top and in lower right corner. In words - at the bottom.
Comments:
Designer: Nicolae Săftoiu.
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.
Official booklet of the bank of Romania with the 2000 Lei 2000 note in my collection.
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