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100 Lei 1966, Romania

in Krause book Number: 97a
Years of issue: 01.11.1966
Edition:
Signatures: no signature
Serie: 1966 Issue
Specimen of: 1966
Material: Cotton fiber
Size (mm): 153 х 74
Printer: Imprimeria Bancii Nationale a Romaniei, Bucuresti

* All pictures marked magnify 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.

100 Lei 1966

Description

Watermark:

watermark

Rhombuses.

Avers:

100 Lei 1966

Nicolae Balcescu

The engraving on banknote is made after the portrait of Nicolae Bălcescu by Romanian painter Gheorghe Tattarescu, 1851.

Nicolae Bălcescu (29 June 1819 - 29 November 1852) was a Romanian Wallachian soldier, historian, journalist, and leader of the 1848 Wallachian Revolution.

In 1840 participated in the movement for the unification and independence of Wallachia and Moldavia. In the 1848 revolution was a member of the Provisional Government of Wallachia, advocated universal suffrage and the distribution of land among the peasants.

Bălcescu was a member of the literary and political society "Sochietatya literare", played for the spread of education. He published many historical documents, including the Wallachian Chronicle, wrote a series of biographies of prominent Romanian figures, as well as major work "History of Romanians in the time of Prince Michael the Brave". Advocated unification of the Romanian lands and the establishment of a democratic republic.

In his writings Bălcescu expressed valuable thoughts about patterns of progressive development of human society, linking it to the social struggle, with the recognition of the role of the masses in history.

The coat of arms of the Socialist Republic of Romania is centered.

coat

Represents afforested mountains, over which the sun is arising. On the left side is an oil derrick. The coat of arms is surrounded by a wreath of wheat ears. On top of the coat of arms id a five-pointed star. On the bottom of the coat of arms, the wheat ears are wraped with a tricolor ribbon on which is written: "REPUBLICA SOCIALISTĂ ROMÂNIA".

Denominations in numerals are in all corners and, vertically, on the right side. In words are in center and lower, along whole length.

Revers:

100 Lei 1966

Romanian Athenaeum

The Roman Athenaeum concert hall in Bucharest.

The Romanian Athenaeum (Ateneul Român) is a concert hall in the center of Bucharest, Romania and a landmark of the Romanian capital city. Opened in 1888, the ornate, domed, circular building is the city's main concert hall and home of the "George Enescu" Philharmonic and of the George Enescu annual international music festival.

In 1865, cultural and scientific personalities such as Constantin Esarcu, V. A. Urechia, and Nicolae Creţulescu founded the Romanian Atheneum Cultural Society. To serve its purposes, the Romanian Athenaeum, a building dedicated to art and science, would be erected in Bucharest.

The building was designed by the French architect Albert Galleron, built on a property that had belonged to the Văcărescu family and inaugurated in 1888, although work continued until 1897. A portion of the construction funds was raised by public subscription in a 28-year-long effort, of which the slogan is still remembered today: "Donate one leu for the Ateneu!"

On December 29, 1919, the Atheneum was the site of the conference of leading Romanians who voted to ratify the unification of Bessarabia, Transylvania, and Bukovina with the Romanian Old Kingdom to constitute Greater Romania.

Extensive reconstruction and restoration work has been conducted in 1992 by a Romanian construction company and restoration painter Silviu Petrescu, saving the building from collapse. The 9 million Euro required were contributed in equal shares by the government and the Council of Europe Development Bank.

The overall style is neoclassical, with some more romantic touches. In front of the building there is a small park and a statue of Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu.

Inside, the ground floor hosts an ornate conference hall as large as the auditorium above; the auditorium seats 600 in the stalls and another 52 in loge seating.

A 75-sqm. long and 3-m. wide fresco by Costin Petrescu decorates the inside of the circular wall of the concert hall. Painted using the al fresco technique, the piece depicts the most important moments of Romanian history, starting with the conquest of Dacia by Roman emperor Trajan and ending with the realization of Greater Romania in 1918.

Recognized as a symbol of Romanian culture, the building has been inscribed in 2007 on the list of the Label of European Heritage sites.[4

Denominations in numerals are in all corners. In words lower.

Comments:

I got this note in September 1991, on the highway, near Romanian city Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Exchanged for my collection for 1 West German Mark coin.