500 Leva, Bulgaria, 1929 (Pick 52)

This 500 Leva note was issued in Bulgaria, dated 1929. It belongs to the First lev (1881-1952) currency system. Issuing authority and period recorded in the catalogue: Boris III (Борис III) (1918-1943). It measures 173 × 89 mm and is printed on paper. The Standard Catalog of World Paper Money lists the type as Pick 52.

Obverse: The coat of arms on the left,the portrait of Tsar Boris III in a military uniform on the right. Its lettering reads “Петстотинъ Лева / Българската Народна Банка / Плаща Предявителю / София 1929г.”. Translation given in the catalogue: “Five Hundred Leva The Bulgarian National Bank Pays the Bearer Sofia 1929 y.”. Reverse: A view from the Iskar Defile. Its lettering reads “Петстотинъ Лева / Banque Nationale de Bulgarie / За подправка виновнитѣ се наказватъ съгласно чл. 183 и 191 отъ наказателния законъ.”. Translation given in the catalogue: “Five Hundred Leva Banque Nationale de Bulgarie For forgery the guilty are punished according Art. 183 and 191 of the criminal law”.

The note was printed by De La Rue (Thomas de la Rue; Thomas De La Rue & Co.; TDLR), London, United Kingdom (1821-date). Design is credited to Alexander Bozhinov (Александър Божинов) and Vasil Zahariev. Watermark: The head of God Hermes de-picted in a 35 mm circle. Demonetized: 16 March 1947. 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.