In 1877, first leu series state notes were introduced in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500 lei. In 1880, these notes were overstamped for issue by the Banca Națională a României, which began to issue regular notes in 1881 in denominations of 20, 100, and 1,000 lei.

In 1947, the Ministry of Finance introduced the second series 20 lei notes and Banca Națională a României introduced 100, 500 and 1,000 lei notes. In 1949, Banca Republicii Populare Române took over the production of paper money and issued 500 and 1,000 lei notes.

In 1952, the Ministry of Finance introduced the third series notes for 1, 3, and 5 lei, and the Banca Republicii Populare Române introduced 10, 25 and 100 leu notes. In 1966, the Banca Națională a Republicii Socialiste România took over the production of all paper money, issuing notes for 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 lei.

In 1991, 500 and 1,000 leu notes were introduced, followed by 200 and 5,000 leu notes in 1992, 10,000 lei in 1994, 50,000 lei in 1996, 100,000 lei in 1998, 500,000 lei in 2000 and 1,000,000 lei in 2003. There was also a commemorative 2,000 lei note introduced in 1999 celebrating the total solar eclipse that occurred on 11 August 1999. The final issues of the 2,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000, 500,000, and 1,000,000 lei were polymer notes.

Mihai Eminescu (b. Mihail Eminovici January 15, 1850, Botoșani , Moldova  – d.June 15, 1889, Bucharest, Romania ) was a Romanian poet, prose writer and journalist, generally considered to be the most famous and influential personality in Romanian literature.

Histria was an ancient Greek city on the Black Sea coast. It is considered the oldest Greek polis built on the current Romanian territory, built around 630 BC.

FRONT: Portrait of poet Mihai Eminescu to left, bank initials above the lily flower and quill pen at centre, Romanian coat of arms at upper-left corner.

Lettering: BANCA NAȚIONALǍ A ROMÂNIEI  1998 1.000 lei UNA MIE MIHAI EMINESCU 1850-1889

Signature - Isărescu Mugur Constantin (Govenor)

Signature - Niţu Ionel (Chief Cashier)

BACK: Ruins of Histria Fort at centre and a flower, large denomination in background behind.

Lettering: BANCA NAȚIONALǍ A ROMÂNIEI FALSIFICAREA ACESTOR BILETE SE PEDEPSESTE CONFORM LEGILOR UNA MIE lei 1.000

Translation: National bank of Romania, The falsification of Banknotes is prohibited by the law, one thousand lei

Country      Romania 

Issuing bank National Bank of Romania (NRB)

Period            Republic (since 1989)

Type        Standard circulation banknotes

Year          1998

Value          1000 Lei 

Currency  Third leu (1952-2005)

Composition Paper (cotton, linen)

Size          140 × 61 mm

Serial number  013A 1298202

Color                Multicolored blue, yellow, and orange underprint

Shape          Rectangular

Demonetized 31 December 2001

Printer              De La Rue (Thomas de la Rue; Thomas De La Rue & Co.; TDLR), London, United Kingdom

Security            UV activity, Security thread, Banks initials and the portrait of Mihai Eminescu watermark

References   P# 106