Issued in 1951 by the National Bank of Bulgaria as part of the second Lev series (issued in 1952), this 50 Leva note features on the obverse a portrait of Georgi Dimitrov, Bulgaria’s first communist leader, alongside the national coat of arms. The reverse depicts a woman in national costume gathering baskets of roses in a field, symbolizing agricultural productivity.
Printed on 100% cotton paper by Goznak (USSR), the note measures 157 × 80 mm. Its watermark shows the Cyrillic letters “БНБ” (BNB) with a hammer and sickle motif. It does not include a security thread. The note was withdrawn on 31 March 1962.
Obverse
Asymmetrical disposition,the coat of arms on the right,a portrait of Georgi Dimitrov on the left,a shield with the figure “50” on the wider white margin.
Script: Cyrillic
Lettering:
Петдесет Лева
Народна Република България
Translation:
Fifty Leva
People’s Republic of Bulgaria
Reverse
A picture of a woman rose-picker in a national costume in the middle.
Script: Cyrillic
Lettering:
Петдесет Лева
Българска Народна Банка
Банкнотата е обеспечена с благородни метали и всички активи на банката
За подправка виновните се наказват по закона
Translation:
Fifty 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
“БНБ” (BNB), sickle and hammer.
© 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 | 50 Leva |
| Currency | Second lev (1952-1962) |
| Composition | Paper |
| Size | 157 × 80 mm |
| Shape | Rectangular |
| Demonetized | 31 March 1962 |
