National Bank of Moldova is issuing 3 new commemorative coins on 3 October 2011.
Two of them - one minted in gold and one in silver – are dedicated to Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu and will complete the commemorative series “Alley of Classics” from “Stefan cel Mare” Public Garden of Chisinau municipality.
Writer, historian, linguist, folklorist, politician, journalist, scholar of European class, Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu (1838-1907) is one of the most remarkable personalities of Romanian culture of all time. With his literary and scientific work, he made a valuable contribution to the development of humanitarian disciplines and national culture.
The third coin, to be issued on the aforementioned date, is minted in silver and will complete the commemorative series “Personalities”. It is commemorating 180 years since the birth of Alexandru Bernardazzi (1831-1907), who played an important role in the development of architecture in Bessarabia.
During 1856 and 1878, Alexandru Bernardazzi was the principal architect of Chisinau, participating in urban public works, in street mapping and paving, as well as in designing and construction of municipal water supply. He designed the most important buildings in the capital, valorizing the beauty of the local natural stone, which gives the city a representative white color.
The coins will be issued into circulation as legal tender and for numismatic purpose. The one minted in gold, dedicated to Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu, has pictured his effigy and has a face value of 100 lei, with a weight of 7.8 grams, proof quality and with a circulation of 300 copies. The coin with the second theme depicts the effigy of Alexandru Bernardazzi and the “St. Teodora de la Sihla” Church from Chisinau, designed by the notable architect Alexandru Bernardazzi. Each of the coin minted in silver has a face value of 50 lei, weighing 13 grams, proof quality and with a circulation of 500 copies.
The commemorative coins, packed in transparent methacrylate capsules and presentation boxes, will be accompanied by certificates of authenticity, written in Romanian and English and signed by the Governor of the National Bank of Moldova.
The commemorative coins are available for sale through licensed banks at a price of up to three percent above that set by the National Bank of Moldova.
