Bulgarian lev
български лев (Bulgarian)
20 leva gold coin (1894)
ISO 4217 code	BGN
Central bank	Bulgarian National Bank
Website	www.bnb.bg
User(s)	Bulgaria
Pegged with	euro = 1.95583 leva
Subunit
1/100	stotinka
Symbol	лв
Nickname	lev – kint ; 1,000 leva – bon stotinka – kamuk ; money – mangizi [1]
Plural	levove, numeric: leva
stotinka	stotinki
Coins	1, 2, 5, 10, 20 & 50 stotinki, 1 lev
Banknotes
Freq. used	2, 5, 10, 20, 50 & 100 leva
Rarely used	1 lev
Mint	Bulgarian Mint
Website	www.mint.bg

The lev (Bulgarian: лев, plural: лева, левове / leva^[2], levove) is the currency of Bulgaria. It is divided in 100 stotinki (стотинки, singular: stotinka, стотинка). In archaic Bulgarian the word "lev" meant "lion".

History[link]

First lev, 1881–1952[link]

The lev was introduced as Bulgaria's currency in 1881 with a value equal to the French franc. The gold standard was suspended between 1899 and 1906 before being suspended again in 1912. Until 1916, Bulgaria's silver and gold coins were issued to the same specifications as those of the Latin Monetary Union. Banknotes issued until 1928 were backed by gold ("leva zlato" or "zlatni", "лева злато" or "златни") or silver ("leva srebro" or "srebarni", "лева сребро" or "сребърни").

In 1928, a new gold standard of 1 lev = 10.86956 mg gold was established.

During World war II, in 1940, the lev was pegged to the German Reichsmark at a rate of 32.75 leva = 1 Reichsmark. With the Soviet occupation in September 1944, the lev was pegged to the Soviet ruble at 15 leva = 1 ruble. A series of pegs to the U.S. dollar followed: 120 leva = 1 dollar in October 1945, 286.50 leva in December 1945 and 143.25 leva in March 1947. No coins were issued after 1943; only banknotes were issued until the currency reform of 1952.

Second lev, 1952–1962[link]

In 1952, following wartime inflation, a new lev replaced the original lev at a rate of 1 "new" lev = 100 "old" leva. However the rate for banking accounts was different, ranging from 100:3 to 200:1. Prices for goods were replaced at a rate of 25:1.^[3] The new lev was pegged to the U. S. dollar at a rate of 6.8 leva = 1 dollar, falling to 9.52 leva on July 29, 1957.

Third lev, 1962–1999[link]

In 1962, another redenomination took place at the rate of 10 to 1, setting the exchange rate at 1.17 leva = 1 U. S. dollar, with the tourist rate falling to 2 leva on February 1, 1964. The ISO 4217 code was BGL. After this, the lev remained fairly stable for almost three decades. However, like other Communist countries' currencies, it was not freely convertible for Western funds. Consequently, black market rates were five to ten times higher than the official rate . During the period, until 1989 the lev was backed by gold, and the banknotes have the text stating: "The bank note is backed by gold and all assets of the bank" ("Банкнотата е обезпечена със злато и всички активи на банката").

After the fall of communism, Bulgaria experienced several episodes of drastic inflation and currency devaluation. In order to change this, in 1997, the lev was pegged to the Deutsche Mark, with 1000 lev equal to 1 DM (one lev equal to 0.1 pfennig).

Fourth lev, 1999–today[link]

On 5 July 1999 the lev was redenominated at 1000:1 with 1 new lev equal to 1 Deutsche Mark.^[4] The ISO 4217 currency code for the new Bulgarian lev is BGN. The currency was no longer backed by gold and silver, this was made evident by the banknotes losing the text stating the lev was backed by gold or bank assets.

With the replacement of the Deutsche Mark by the euro, the lev's peg effectively switched to the euro, at the rate of 1.95583 leva = 1 euro, which is the Deutsche Mark's fixed exchange rate to euro. Since 1997, Bulgaria has been in a system of currency board and all Bulgarian currency in circulation has been backed 100% by the foreign exchange reserves of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB). The rate is unlikely to change before the lev's retirement. On 25 April 2005, when Bulgaria's EU accession treaty was signed, the BNB issued a commemorative coin with the face value of 1.95583 leva. The lev was expected to be replaced by the euro on 1 January 2012,^[5] however some recent analysis says that Bulgaria will not be able to join earlier than 2015, due to their inflation problems and the impact of the global financial crisis of 2008. However, in February 2009, The Economist suggested accelerating Bulgaria's path to the euro, or even letting it be adopted immediately.^[6]

It is speculated that Bulgaria, as a member of the European Union could adopt the Euro in 2015 ^[7].

Coins[link]

First lev[link]

1883, 50 stotinki

1912 20 stotinki

Between 1881 and 1884, bronze 2, 5 and 20 stotinki, and silver 50 stotinki, 1, 2 and 5 leva were introduced, followed, in 1888, by cupro-nickel 2½, 5, 10 and 20 stotinki. Gold 10 and 20 leva were issued in 1894. Bronze 1 stotinka were introduced in 1901.

Production of silver coins ceased in 1916, with zinc replacing cupro-nickel in the 5, 10 and 20 stotinki in 1917. In 1923, aluminum 1 and 2 leva coins were introduced, followed by cupro-nickel pieces in 1925. In 1930, cupro-nickel 5 and 10 leva and silver 20, 50 and 100 leva were introduced, with silver coins issued until 1937, in which year aluminium-bronze 50 stotinki were issued.

In 1940, cupro-nickel 20 and 50 leva were issued, followed, in 1941, by iron 1, 2, 5 and 10 leva. In 1943, nickel-clad-steel 5, 10 and 50 leva were struck. These were the last coins issued for this version of the lev.

Second lev[link]

In 1952, coins (dated 1951) were introduced in denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10 and 25 stotinki, with the lower three denominations in brass and the higher three in cupro-nickel. Cupro-nickel 20 stotinki dated 1952 were also issued, followed by 50 stotinki in 1959 and 1 lev in 1960 (both also in cupro-nickel).

Third lev[link]

In 1962, brass 1, 2 and 5 stotinki, and nickel-brass 10, 20 and 50 stotinki and 1 lev were introduced.

In 1992, a new coinage was introduced in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 stotinki, 1, 2, 5 and 10 leva. All were struck in nickel-brass except for the cupro-nickel 10 leva. In 1997, nickel-brass 10, 20 and 50 leva were introduced.

Fourth lev[link]

In 1999, coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 stotinki were introduced.^{[citation needed]} A 1 lev coin in 2002 replaced the 1 lev banknote introduced in 1999. The 1, 2 and 5 stotinki are struck in brass-plated steel, and the 10, 20 and 50 stotinki in cupro-nickel; each depicts the Madara horseman on its obverse. The 1 lev coin is bimetallic and depicts St. Ivan Rilski on its obverse.

Banknotes[link]

First lev[link]

In 1885, the Bulgarian National Bank introduced notes for 20 and 50 gold leva, followed in 1887 by 100 gold leva and, in 1890, by 5 and 10 gold leva notes. In 1899, 5, 10 and 50 silver leva notes were issued, followed by 100 and 500 silver leva in 1906 and 1907, respectively. 500 gold leva notes were also introduced in 1907.

In 1916, 1 and 2 silver leva and 1000 gold leva notes were introduced, followed by 2500 and 10,000 gold leva notes in 1919. In 1924, 5000 leva notes were issued, the first to lack a metal designation. In 1928, a new series of notes (dated 1922 and 1925) was introduced which gave the denominations solely in leva. Denominations introduced were 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 leva. These were followed in 1929 by 200 and 250 leva.

In 1930, coins up to 100 leva replaced notes, although 20-lev notes were issued between 1943 and 1950. Between 1943 and 1945, State Treasury Bills for 1000 and 5000 leva were issued.

Second lev[link]

In 1952, state notes (dated 1951)[1] were issued in 1, 3 and 5 leva, together with notes of the National Bank for 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 leva. 500-lev notes were printed but not issued.

• 

  200 leva 1951

• 

  200 leva 1951

• 

  500 leva 1951

• 

  500 leva 1951

Third lev[link]

One Lev banknote issued in 1974

In 1962, the National Bank issued notes for 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 leva. A second series, in the same denominations, was issued in 1974. 50 leva notes were introduced in 1990. After the fall of the communist regime, new notes were introduced for 20, 50, 100 and 200 leva. These were followed by 500 leva notes in 1993, 1000 and 2000 leva in 1994, 5000 and 10,000 leva in 1996, and 50,000 leva in 1997.

Fourth lev[link]

In 1999, banknotes were introduced in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 leva. 100 leva notes were added in 2003. The 1 lev note has been replaced in everyday use by the 1 lev coin.

See also[link]

• Bulgaria and the euro
• Commemorative coins of Bulgaria
• Economy of Bulgaria
• Medieval Bulgarian coinage

Notes[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Gallery of Bulgarian paper money
• Bulgarian Banknotes
• Bulgarian Banknotes Pictures Gallery

v t e Bulgaria topics History First Bulgarian Empire Second Bulgarian Empire Ottoman period Principality Tsardom People's republic Bulgaria since 1989 Politics and Economy Prime Minister Government President National Assembly European Union Bulgarian lev Bulgarian National Bank Science and technology Geography Rhodope Mountains Balkan Peninsula Rila Pirin Cities and towns Villages Bulgarian Black Sea Coast Rivers Islands Reservoirs and dams Provinces Blagoevgrad Burgas Dobrich Gabrovo Haskovo Kardzhali Kyustendil Lovech Montana Pazardzhik Pernik Pleven Plovdiv Razgrad Rousse Shumen Silistra Sliven Smolyan Sofia Province Stara Zagora Targovishte Varna Veliko Tarnovo Vidin Vratsa Yambol Society Demographics Crime Education List of Bulgarians Culture Bulgarian language (Bulgarian alphabet Cyril and Methodius Slavic languages) Literature Music Dances Bulgarian Orthodox Church Customs Cuisine Cinema Sports Public holidays Categories Buildings and structures Communications Conservation Economy People Culture Geography Government Science and technology Law Bulgarian Orthodox Church Bulgaria and the Antarctic Portal WikiProject