Every day we use it, so many leva pass through our hands, and we don’t even think about
the history of our currency.
What do you know about it? In this article we will tell you a little more about the Bulgarian lev.
The origin of its name comes from the obsolete form of the word “lion”- lev, which is
used in the 19th century. The lion is the national symbol of Bulgaria. It is the embodiment of
power and strength.
The first Bulgarian coins were minted in 1881. Their denomination was 1, 2 and 5 cents.
The first banknotes were issued in 1885 and denominated in 20 lev.
They were printed in St. Petersburg.
When the first Bulgarian coins were introduced, our country was mainly
Ottoman grosz and the grosz had to be equated to the Bulgarian lev.
The first gold coins were minted in 1894. They bear the face of Prince Ferdinand.
After the last issue of silver coins in 1937, gold and silver coins began to be minted.
coins, which are thematic and commemorative, and have only collector’s value.
It is curious that Bulgarians find it difficult to accept paper banknotes because
they are backed by gold (but are actually paper), and the other currencies in circulation
here are the Ottoman groszy and Russianrubles are made of real silver (and are coins).
That is, people find it hard to imagine how a paper coin is backed and prefer to have real silver in their hands.
It takes years for this new model of backing to take hold.
Since the liberation (1878), several monetary reforms have been carried out. In
1924, a 5000 lev banknote was printed for the first time, which bore the face of Hristo
Botev. After 1944 there were new issues.
Since 1997, the value of the Bulgarian lev has been linked to that of the German mark,
through a system called the Currency Board at the rate of 1000 lev – 1 German mark.
And 1999 is followed by the so-called denomination of the Bulgarian lev. As 1000 old levs
were exchanged for 1 lev. At the end of that year 1 lev = 1.95583 euro.
Have you ever wondered who stands on the banknotes today? We will tell you a little curious
information.
On the 5 lev note is Ivan Milev. He is a Bulgarian artist who has a strong
imagination and style.
On the 10 lev note is Petar Beron, who is the author of the “Fish Book”.
The face of Stefan Stambolov is on the 20 lev note.
He was the most decisive Bulgarian politician who took the risk and
responsibility to modernise Bulgaria.
Pencho Slaveykov is on the 50 lev note. He is a poet and a participant in the literary
circle “Misal”. (Transl.”Tought”)
The image of Aleko Konstantinov, known by the pseudonym Shtastlivetsa( The Happy Guy), is on the
100 lev note. He was a writer, lawyer and public figure.
And in 2013 the Bulgarian lev was named one of the five most beautiful currencies in the
World, by the Commission of the International Bank of Switzerland.