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Bulgaria
Bulgarian Lev (BGN)
Curiosities about the currency
The lev is the currency in use in Bulgaria since 1881 and is divided into 100 stotinkas. It has undergone several episodes of inflation, devaluation, and revaluation during the post-war and communist periods. Currently, the Bulgarian National Bank is responsible for its issuance.
Currently, there are coins in circulation in Bulgaria of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 stotinki and of 1 and 2 lev. The latter is the most recent, as it entered into circulation in 2015. Each year, commemorative coins are minted that enter into legal tender.
Bulgaria has been part of the eurozone since January 2007. This adherence to the single currency implies that the country must adopt the euro as its official currency. However, there is still no scheduled date for the Bulgarian lev to transition to the euro.
The word «lev» names the currency of Bulgaria and means «lion». This animal has been the official symbol of the country since 1878, a date that coincided with Bulgaria's independence, which is commemorated with multiple statues of lions in the main buildings and cities.
The current Bulgarian lev banknotes are 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 BGN. All the obverses feature a distinguished man from the country, while the reverses display paintings, buildings, or national symbols. They are all made of paper, and the most common is the 50 lev banknote.
What do the banknotes/coins look like?
Front part
*The banknotes and coins correspond to the newest issued series and are for reference. Colours may vary and there may be more designs than those shown.
