Issued in 1951 by the National Bank of Bulgaria during the Second Lev period, this 25 Leva note features on the obverse a portrait of Georgi Dimitrov, the country’s leader at the time, alongside the Bulgarian coat of arms and the denomination “25 Лева”. The reverse depicts a scene with a youth railway brigade, reflecting post-war industrial efforts. The note is printed on cotton-based paper with gray-blue tones and measures 145 × 76 mm.
It includes a watermark showing the Cyrillic initials БНБ with a hammer and sickle, and was printed by Goznak in the USSR. It was demonetized on 31 March 1962, following currency reforms.
Obverse
Asymmetrical disposition, the coat of arms on the right, a portrait of Georgi Dimitrov on the left, a shield with the figure “25” on the wider white margin.
Script: Cyrillic
Lettering:
Двадесет и Пет Лева
Народна Република България
Translation:
Twenty Five Leva
People’s Republic of Bulgaria
Reverse
A youth brigade installing rails in the middle.
Script: Cyrillic
Lettering:
Двадесет и Пет Лева
Българска Народна Банка
Банкнотата е обеспечена с благородни метали и всички активи на банката
За подправка виновните се наказват по закона
Translation:
Twenty Five Leva
Bulgarian National Bank
The banknote is backed by precious metals and all the bank’s assets
For forgery the guilty are punished according to the law
Watermark
Initials of Bulgarian National Bank in Cyrillic (БНБ) with hammer and sickle across banknote.
© hex7ech (CC BY-NC)
Printer
Goznak (Гознак, Экспедиция заготовления государственных бумаг), Russian Federation (1818-date)
Features
| Issuer | Bulgaria |
|---|---|
| Ruling authority | People’s Republic (1946-1990) |
| Type | Standard circulation banknotes |
| Year | 1951 |
| Value | 25 Leva |
| Currency | Second lev (1952-1962) |
| Composition | Paper |
| Size | 145 × 76 mm |
| Shape | Rectangular |
| Demonetized | 31 March 1962 |
