Banknote Billet Romania 10 lei 2008

The 10 Romanian lei banknote issued on 1 December 2008 belongs to the series of polymer banknotes of the National Bank of Romania. The issue date, 1 December, is not coincidental: it coincides with Romania's National Day, commemorating the union of Transylvania with the Kingdom of Romania in 1918.

This banknote pays tribute to Nicolae Grigorescu (1838-1907), a major figure in 19th-century Romanian painting, considered one of the founders of the modern school of painting in Romania. Trained in France, particularly in Barbizon alongside the great masters of the time, Grigorescu developed a style influenced by Impressionism, while remaining deeply rooted in the depiction of Romanian landscapes and rural scenes. His portrait adorns the main face of the banknote, accompanied by reproductions of his most iconic works.

The banknote is made of polymer, a transparent plastic material that provides the substrate with increased resistance to wear and moisture compared to traditional cotton banknotes. This substrate also allows for the integration of transparent windows, security features characteristic of polymer banknotes, making counterfeiting more difficult.

The face value of 10 lei is clearly indicated in several areas of the banknote, both on the front and the back. The banknote incorporates various security features in line with modern fiduciary production standards, including inks with variable optical effects, micro-printing and raised elements perceptible to the touch.