The BNR Museum organizes, between February 10 and May 6, 2026, the temporary exhibition entitled "Money Talks to Us - a History of the Leu from Metal to Polymer", carried out in collaboration with the State Mint and the National Bank Printing Office.
"Through over 500 exhibits, the most important moments in the history of the national currency are highlighted. Visitors are invited to go through the historical stages preceding the establishment of the national monetary system from the first coins issued in the medieval Romanian states, starting with the 14th century, to get in touch with the direct ancestor of the leu - the Dutch leu-thaler - and to understand the efforts made by Alexandru Ioan Cuza to establish a currency of the United Principalities," a press release from the central bank states.
The exhibition includes many other valuable pieces from the collection of the BNR Museum, directly related to the history of the leu. Among them are coins, banknotes, printing sheets, clichés, models and monetary dies, sheets with color separations and sheets of printed banknotes, etc., so that the public will have an overview of the stages of manufacturing the national currency, from the first issue in 1867 to the present.
At the same time, the exhibition is conceived as a presentation of the development of the national currency in the context of major historical moments. Through the exhibited pieces, visitors have the opportunity to learn to what extent the national currency constituted a political and ideological vehicle in affirming Romania's identity and independence.
Equally, the evolution of the technological processes used to manufacture coins and banknotes over time can be followed. The public's attention will also be captured by the various functional machines, made available by the State Mint, which are part of the flow of manufacturing circulation coins.
The exhibition can be visited during guided tours, organized from Monday to Friday, from 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00, by appointment.
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