Romania 2007 500 lei Fr-50
This specimen was lot 1258 in Goldberg's NY International sale 58 (New York, January 2023), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "Romania-Republic. Gold 500 Lei, 2007 31.05 g. Nicolae Balcescu commemorative. Balcescu portrait ¾ left. Rev. Arms flanked by dates '1848' and '2007', value below. Brilliant Proof. Mintage of only 250 pieces. In original case. Brilliant Proof." The post-communist regime in Romania has taken to issuing NCLT's honoring bizarre events and anniversaries. This one honors Nicolae Balcescu, a more conventional topic. Another gold 500 lei (KM 205) marked Romania's entry into the European Union.
Wikipedia comments, "Nicolae Bălcescu (Romanian pronunciation: [nikoˈla.e bəlˈt͡ʃesku]) (1819–1852) was a Romanian Wallachian soldier, historian, journalist, and leader of the 1848 Wallachian Revolution."
Recorded mintage: 250 proofs.
Specification: 31.10 g, 0.999 fine gold, 35 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Fr-50, KM 205.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-Date, 13th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2018.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Stephen Harvey and Vera Kan, Goldberg NY International 2023 Sale, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2022.
Link to: