50 Leva, Bulgaria, 1916 (Pick 19)

This 50 Leva note was issued in Bulgaria, dated 1916. It belongs to the First lev (1881-1952) currency system. Issuing authority and period recorded in the catalogue: Ferdinand I (Фердинанд I) (1887-1918). It measures 170 × 110 mm and is printed on paper. The Standard Catalog of World Paper Money lists the type as Pick 19.

Obverse: The coat of arms in the middle on the top; the text “ПЕТДЕСЕТЪ ЛЕВА ЗЛАТО” (fifty gold levs). Its lettering reads “Петдесетъ Лева Злато / Българската Народна Банка / Плаща Прѣдѫвителю въ замѣна на таѫ банкнота”. Translation given in the catalogue: “Fifty Leva Gold The Bulgarian National Bank Pays the Bearer for exchange of this banknote”. Reverse: The coat of arms encircled by vignettes in the middle. Its lettering reads “Петдесетъ Лева / За подправка виновнитѣ се наказватъ съгласно §§ 183 и 191 отъ наказ. законъ.”. Translation given in the catalogue: “Fifty Leva For forgery the guilty are punished according Art. 183 and 191 of the criminal law”.

The note was printed by Bundesdruckerei (Reichsdruckerei), Berlin, Germany (1879-date). Watermark: Rhombs. Demonetized: 5 May 1924. Identification note: match the value, issuing bank, printed date and Pick number together; dates and signature combinations distinguish sub-varieties, which are not separated in this entry. Details follow the Numista catalogue entry and the Standard Catalog reference it cites; they have not been checked against a central-bank archive.