Romania - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Romania, a country located between the Central and Southeastern Europe on the Lower Danube bordered by Hungary, Serbia, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria, and the Black Sea has a total land area of 92,043 square miles and a population of around 22 million. Its very varied topography is paired with a very diverse range of European forest flora and fauna. It is an upper middle income country whose economy is based on services, industry and agriculture. Romania is the birthplace of many eminent scientists, researchers, artists and mathematicians. The main exports are cars, garments, electrical and electronic equipment, military equipment, and agriculture.By reducing the tax to a flat rate of 16%, the country became attractive for foreign investments.Commerce and tourism are the mainstays of the services sector.

Travel Resources: 

The best time to visit Romania is May through October with July and August being the peak season. Its beautiful landscape, culture and history contributes to its lure. It has 13 national parks and several World Heritage Sites. It has many castles, palaces, wooden churches, monasteries, and the fortified Saxon churches. Saxon village, Danube delta, Fagaras mountains, Transylvania, Moldovia, Maramure, Sibiu, Agres Valley, and the ski resorts of Valea Prahovei are some of the major destinations for visitors. Pork, chicken, beef, lamb and fish are consumed as soup, or as the main dish. There are plenty of watering holes around Romania.

Resource	ISBN or ASIN	Best Price	Description
The Complete Insider’s Guide to Romania	978-1456410766	$8	An in-depth look at visiting, living and experiencing all the timeless wonders of Romania. The unique structure is very practical with sections on Tourism Basics, Money, Food, Drinks and Beverages, Alcohol, Smoking and Drugs, Transportation, Major Holidays, Cultural Basics, Top Recommended 5 Cities to See, Other Cities, Top 8 Recommended Rural Places to Visit, Best Castles and Palaces, Best Festivals, Best Museums, along with sections suitable for people choosing an extended stay in Romania.
The Seamstress	978-0425166307	$11	One of the best Holocaust Memoirs published posthumously tells the story of a Romanian Jew from her childhood to her survival from a year at the women’s concentration camp in Ravensbrock.
Romania Map by Cartographia	978-9633529683	$8	1:800,000 Scale.
Romania Grounded Adapter Plug – GUB	B001FD854E	$8

Philatelic Profile:

The first stamps of Romania were a set of four stamps released in July of 1858 in the Moldavian Coat of Arms theme. The stamps are very rare and each stamp in the set (Scott #1 to #4) catalogs for upwards of $4K mint and over $2K for used. Romania was formed by the union of Moldavia and Walachia in 1859. The Coat of Arms design from the Moldavia-Walachia union appeared in a set of four stamps in 1862. That set (Scott #11 to #14) catalogs for around $635 mint and around $2.8K for used. Several varieties of the same set were released during the period till 1864. Prince Carol followed by King Carol designs formed the primary stamp issues of Romania during the period from 1866 to 1900. Some of the sets during the period catalog in the hundreds of dollar range while others can be had for a few tens of dollars. Chief among them was a set of ten stamps released in July 1900. That set (Scott #148 to #157) catalogs for around $100 MNH and around $35 for used. Romania was formed by the unification of Wallachia and Moldavia in 1859. Ottoman Empire officially recognized the independence in 1878.

Romania released a set of eleven stamps in 1906 in the History theme. The set (Scott #196 to #206) catalogs for around $140 MNH and around $80 for used. The designs show plowman and angel, exposition buildings, King Carol I on his horseback, and Queen Elizabeth. It was released for the General Exposition and sold in post offices only for three days. The ones sold at the exposition were marked ‘S.E’ and that variety catalogs for $275 mint or used. Another set in the history theme released earlier in the year (Scott #176 to #185) catalogs for a lot less at around $17 mint and around $12 used. That set featured Prince Carol taking oath of allegiance in 1866, Prince in Royal Carriage, Prince at Calafat in 1877, Prince shaking hands with his captive, Osman Pasha, Carol I as Prince in 1866 and King in 1906, Romanian Army crossing Danube, Romanian Troops Return to Bucharest in 1878, Prince Carol at Head of His Command, King Carol I at the Cathedral in 1896, and King Carol I at Shrine at St. Nicholas in 1904.

Other issues of Romania enjoying good philatelic interest include:

1. A set of seven stamps released on May 10, 1931 to mark the centenary of the Romanian Army. The set (Scott #389 to #395) catalogs for around $50 mint and around $15 used. The designs show using bayonet, Romanian Infrantyman of 1870, Romanian Infranty Men of 1830, King Carol I, Infantry Advance, King Ferdinand, and King Carol II. Romanian deaths during the period from 1914 to 1918 are estimated to be around 750,000 – the Central Powers conquered most of the country and captured or killed the majority of its army within four months. Bessarabia, Bukovina and Transylvania proclaimed unions with the Kingdom of Romania in 1918 which were ratified by treaties in 1919 and 1920.
2. A set of four stamps released on October 20, 1953 in the Civil Aviation theme. The set (Scott #970 to #973) catalogs for around $25 MNH and around $2 for used. The designs show girl with model plane, parachute landing, glider and pilot, and plane in flight. From around 1950, canceled to order stamps have been issued by the government in large quantities and so they have very limited catalog and collectible value. Postally used copies of the set are valued only slightly less than MNH copies.
3. A long set of twenty stamps released in 1972 showing historical structures. The set (Scott #2353 to #2371 and #C193) catalogs for around $30 MNH and around $4 for used. The designs show City Hall Tower of Sibiu, St. Michael’s Cathedral of Cluj, Sphinx Rock of Mount Bucegi, Heroes Monument of Bucharest, Sinaia Castle, Hydroelectric Works of Arges, Church of the Epiphany, Bran Castle, Hunedoara Castle, Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest, Black Church of Brasov, Atheneum of Bucharest, Excavated Coliseum of Sarmizegetusa, Hydroelectric Station at Iron Gate, Monument of Cetatea, Republic Palace, Television Station, Arch at Alba Lulia, and Clock Tower of Sighisoara.
4. A long set of sixteen stamps released on December 22, 1982 showing Utensils. The set (Scott #3102 to #3117) catalogs for around $25 MNH and around $4 for used. The designs show wooden flask of Suceava, ceramic plate of Radauti, wooden scoop of Valea Mare, plate and jug of Vama, butter churn and wooden bucket of Moldavia, ceramic plates of Leheceni, wooden spoon and platter of Cluj, bowl and pitcher of Marginea, jug and flask of Bihor, spindle and shuttle of Transylvania, water buckets of Suceava, jug of Oboga and plate of Horezu, water buckets of Hunedoara, Suceava, wooden flask and beakers of Horezu, wooden spoons of Alba, and ceramic dishes of Horezu.
5. A long set of twenty one stamps released in 1991 showing Hotels, Lodges, and Resorts. The set (Scott #3664 to #3684) catalogs for around $30 MNH and around $10 used. The designs show Hotel Continental of Timisoara, Valea Caprei Lodge of Fagaras, Hotel Intercontinental of Bucharest, Lebada Hotel of Crisan, Muntele Rosu Lodge of Ciucas, Transylvania Hotel of Cluj-Napoca, Hotel Oizont of Predeal, Hotel Roman of Herculane, Rarau Lodge of Rarau, Alpine Hotel of Poiana Brasov, Constanta Casino, Miorija Lodge of Bucegi, Sura Dacilor Lodge of Poiana Brasov, Valea Draganului Tourist Complex, Hotel Florica Venus Health Resort, International Hotel at Baile Felix, Hotel Egreta of Tulcea, Motel Valea de Pesti of Valea Jiului, Tourist Complex of Baisoara, Hotel Bradul of Covasna, and Hotel Gorj or Tirgu Jiu.
6. A set of six stamps and a souvenir sheet released on March 27, 2003 showing Buildings in Bucharest. The set (Scott #4569 to #4574 and #4575) catalogs for around $10 MNH and around $5 used. The designs show Postal Palace, Economics House, National Bank of Romania, Stock Exchange, Carol University, Atheneum, and Palace of Justice. The country transformed itself into an upper-middle income country after the communist regime was overthrown in 1989 and following a period of economic instability. It became a part of the European Union on January 1, 2007.

Numismatic Profile:

The first coins of Romania were Kingdom Standard Coinage (100 Bani – plural Banu = 1 Leu – plural Lei) Copper Banu released in 1867. The issues had high mintage well into the millions but still catalogs for upwards of $75 in UNC. Gold Coins debut in 1868 with the release of a 20 Lei 0.1867 troy ounce gold coin showing Carol I in Obverse. The issue has very low mintage (200) and is very rare.

Numismatic items of Romania include:

Item	Price Range	Description
Coins	$2 and up	Common UNCs starts around $2. Recent Mint Year Set Proofs starts around $30. 1996 Olympic Piedforts, Silver Coins in high grade (VF+) from the 1910s, etc starts around $50. Gold Coins, Low Mintage Silver Proofs, 19th Century Silver Coins in High Grades (XF+), etc go well into the 100s.
Paper Money	$2 and up	Common UNC Banknotes starts around $2. High value UNCs from the 1940s onward starts around $15. Bundles, Rare Dates, etc starts around $50. Specimen Banknotes from the 1940s and prior dates, Year Sets in UNC from the 1960s and prior dates, etc go well into the 100s.

Collectible Memorabilia:

Tuica (plum brandy), Romanian dolls in traditional clothing, scary masks, hand painted tiles, honey etc., are typical souvenirs from the country.

Resource	Price Range	Description
Art	$10 and up	19th century local scenes prints start around $10. Silk Gold-Silver Embroidery Strips start around $25. Early 20th century folk costume prints start around $50. Original oil paintings start in the 100s.
Antiques	$10 and up	19th century maps, vintage wood plaques, etc start around $10. 18th century and older maps start around $50 and go well into the 100s. Handmade wool kilims, Roceram Lamps, Stain Glass Decanters, etc go well into the 100s.
Militaria	$10 and up	War of Independence Pin Badges, Communist Propaganda Badges, etc start around $10. Vintage Military Merit Badges, Communist Romania Pilot Badges, etc start around $25. Emerit Artist Orders, King Carol I Orders, Victory Medals, etc start around $100.

Last Updated: 12/2015.