As on October 10, 2012 the National Bank of Moldova will issue seven silver commemorative coins for numismatic purposes and for the purpose of circulating and as legal tender.

The series “Personalities” will be completed with a coin dedicated to celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of a great poet and journalist - Andrei Lupan, who left a precious artistic testimony reflecting the postwar reality of Bessarabia. The coin represents the effigy of Andrei Lupan and has a face value of 50 lei, weighting 13 grams and with a circulation of 500 copies.

The series “Holidays, culture, traditions of Moldova” will be supplemented with a new coin, dedicated to the celebration of the 160 years since the publication of the ballad “Miorița”, a literary-philosophical poem representing the identity of the nation. The coin illustrates the image of a ewe lamb and a shepherd under a stylized sun and has a face value of 50 lei, weighing 16.5 grams and with a circulation of 2000 copies.

Two other new issues, with the same technical characteristics and face value, represent the Monastery of Butuceni and Soroca Fortress, both being remarkable cultural relics of Moldova. The coin “Măzărache Church” will complete the series “Sanctuaries”, which has a face value of 50 lei, weighting 16.5 grams and with a circulation of 1000 copies.

The last two coins to be put into circulation as on October 10, 2012, “Otter” and “Lady's slipper orchid”, will complete the series “Red Book of the Republic of Moldova”, which represent a message to people about protecting the endangered plant and animal species. Both of the coins have the following technical characteristics: face value of 50 lei, weight of 16.5 grams and a circulation of 1000 copies.

The commemorative coins, packed in transparent methacrylate capsules and presentation boxes, will be accompanied by certificates of authenticity, written in Romanian and English and signed by the Governor of the National Bank of Moldova.

The commemorative coins will be available for sale through the National Bank of Moldova and licensed banks. The licensed banks will determine independently the selling price of commemorative coins, up to three percent above that set by the National Bank of Moldova.