Bulgarian Lev

The Bulgarian lev reflects a nation where scholarship, tradition and discipline have endured through empire, ideology and reform.

Quick Facts

Country: Bulgaria

Code: BGN

Symbol: лв

System: Decimal (1 Lev = 100 Stotinki)

Status: Withdrawn from circulation

Issuer: Bulgarian National Bank

The Story of the Bulgarian Lev

Introduced in 1881 following Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman rule, the Lev established a national monetary identity aligned with European standards. Throughout the 20th century, it passed through monarchy, socialist central planning and post-communist transition, each phase reshaping its value and structure. The defining turning point came in 1997, when a currency board arrangement pegged the Lev to the Deutsche Mark, later transitioning to the Euro. This reform restored stability after hyperinflation. The lev era ended with Bulgaria’s euro transition; the euro has been the country’s sole legal tender since 1 February 2026.

Design & Symbolism

The visual identity of the Bulgarian Lev is rooted in intellectual heritage. Modern banknotes prominently feature figures such as St. Ivan Rilski and Aleko Konstantinov, rendered with refined intaglio engraving. Reverse designs are anchored in concrete cultural artifacts—medieval manuscripts and architectural landmarks like the Rila Monastery. Produced by leading European security printers including Giesecke+Devrient and Oberthur Fiduciaire, the notes combine precise classical engraving with cutting-edge protection. The 2018–2020 upgraded series introduces the dynamic RollingStar LEAD holographic stripe and SPARK Live optical elements, placing the Lev at the forefront of modern European banknote security.

For collectors

For collectors, the Bulgarian Lev offers a powerful contrast between collapse and precision. The hyperinflation peak is embodied in the 1997 50,000 leva banknote, a tangible artifact of economic crisis. At the opposite end stands the 2005 commemorative 20 leva paper banknote, featuring a Varifeye window and a distinct design language that sets it apart within European numismatics. Collectors also focus on the 1999 redenomination transition series and pristine modern issues where cultural symbolism meets advanced security technology, making the Lev a complete narrative of monetary transformation.

Scholarship and reform traditions are carried through the structured design of the lev.

Explore the Bulgarian Lev Banknotes Collection