The currency in Moldova is lei, which consists of one hundred baths. There are banknotes in denominations of one, five, ten, twenty, fifty, one hundred and two hundred Moldovan lei, as well as coins in denominations of one, five, ten and twenty-five baths.
Currency history
For a long time, the national currency in Moldova was absent. The Moldavian principality used mainly foreign coins: florins, ducats, zloty, etc. And in the 17th century Dutch money with a lion appeared on the territory of the state. Moldavians called them lei. In the second half of the 19th century, lei became the national currency of Romania. And in the 90s of the twentieth century, Moldova, which seceded from the USSR, officially declared them its monetary unit.
Protection
Moldovan money has the following security features:
- A dark watermark representing the image of Stefan cel Mare. The portrait is directed to the center and is well visible on a gleam.
- Security thread, “sewn” between the “guilloche” in the center and the decorative vertical strip on the left and viewed through the lumen.
- The outer edges of the images of the sun on the face of the bill and the crescent - on the back should overlap each other when viewed in the light. In addition, the rims of the circles, inside which are the sun and the month, coincide.
- The letter V on the “face” of the banknote and the image of the two columns on its back should, when viewed in the light, form the letter M.
Exchange Features
Currency in Moldova is exchanged without problems. This can be done either in exchangers or in banks. The exchange rate of the euro, dollar, ruble, etc. is approximately the same everywhere, but there are nuances. In many exchange offices there is a rule that it is valid only if a large amount changes (equivalent to 100-200 US dollars or more). In other cases, the course will be underestimated. This is reported to the client in the rules, intentionally written in very small letters. Therefore, it is more reliable to change the currency in banks, although the rate there is usually somewhat lower.
Cash or bank transfer?
Settlement using plastic cards is becoming increasingly popular in the country. The cash currency in Moldova is beginning to gradually be crowded out. But meanwhile, "live" money still prevails. You can pay by card in new supermarkets, large hotels and shopping centers, in some prestigious restaurants and hotels of the capital.
Transnistria Currency
The monetary unit of the Dnieper People’s Republic is the Transnistrian ruble, which consists of one hundred kopecks. This currency is not convertible; it does not go beyond the NDP. It is possible, but difficult, to exchange foreign money in the territory of Transnistria. The course is constantly changing due to inflation. Cashless payments are almost impossible here, and the system of face value of banknotes is extremely complicated.