Brief guide to illustrations on Romanian banknotes

Those who live in Romania use these banknotes every day, but have they ever wondered who are the people and which are the buildings featured on Romanian banknotes? Here’s a brief overview of famous people, buildings and plants featured on Romanian bills. The RON1 bill features the portrait of Romanian historian Nicolae Iorga, who lived between 1871 and 1940. He was one of the most influential public figures in Romania in the beginning of the 20th century and was even prime minister for a brief period between 1931 and 1932. He was assassinated by the legionnaires. On the front of the 1 RON bill there’s also a gentian flower. On the back there’s the episcopal cathedral of the Curtea de Argeş monastery and the ancient Wallachian coat of arms featuring an eagle holding a cross in its beak. (RON 1 is worth some EUR 0.22 at today's rate) The RON5 bill displays a portrait of Romanian violinist and composer George Enescu (1881-1955). He’s the most famous Romanian musician of all times. Some of his most important works are the Oedip opera and the Romanian rhapsodies. On the front of the bill there’s also a c arnation flower, a violin and two musical notes. On the reverse there’s the Romanian Athenaeum, one of the symbol buildings of Bucharest, a piano and a musical stave. ( RON 5 is worth some EUR 1.13 at today's rate) The RON10 bill shows the portrait of painter Nicolae Grigorescu (1838-1907), one of the founders of Romania’s modern painting school. Some of his best known paintings feature Romanian peasant women or oxen carts. A paintbrush and a palette are displayed near his portrait on this bill. The flower on the front is a hollyhock flower. On the back there is a typical house from the Oltenia region and a fragment of Grigorescu’s painting Rodica. She is also the only woman depicted on Romania’s banknotes. (RON 10 is worth some EUR 2.26 at today's rate) The RON 50 bill features pioneer airplane builder Aurel Vlaicu (1882-1913), one of Romania’s most important inventors of all times. During his short career, Vlaicu designed and built three airplanes of his own design. He died while attempting to be the first man to fly across the Carpathian Mountains. Next to him is a