Romania, Mihai I (1940-47), engraver: H. Ionescu, 1943 AD.,
500 Lei (ø 28 mm / 8,34 g), nickel plated iron (magnetic, edge only partly plated), 8,5 g. theor. mint weight, mintage 40.590.000 ,axes coin alignment ↑↓ (180°), plain edge
with immerged inscription: "NIHIL :: SINE :: DEO -·- ",
Obv.: MIHAI I REGELE ROMANILOR / H. IONESCU , his bare head facing righ, engraver´s initials below truncation, no wrinkles at eye.
Rev.: 100 LEI / 1943 , crowned value above date, all within wreath formed by a laurel (left) and an oak branch (right).
KM 64 .
indirect illumination, ca. 45° angle
Year / Mintage
1943 40.590.000 portrait variety "Mihai without wrinkles at eye"
1943 ? portrait variety "Mihai with wrinkles at eye"
1943 ? portrait variety "Mihai with teardrop at eye"
1944 21.289.000
Planchets were made by the German company Vereinigte Deutsche Metallwerke AG (VDM) at Altena, a city from North Rhine - Westphalia, Germany. The plant of Altena was specialized in nickel metallurgy, and most probably here were melted the 50 and 100 lei nickel coins issued in 1936-1938 and withdrawn from circullation. The recovered nickel was partially used for plating the mentioned iron planchets, the rest having been used by the German industry.
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