Moldova - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Moldova, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe located between Romania and Ukraine has a total land area of 13,067 square miles and a population of around 3.6 Million. Moldova, a landlocked country, is the poorest in Europe in terms of GDP and ranks very low in living standards and human development index. It is heavily dependent on imports for its energy requirements and its health care system needs to be brought up to mark. On a positive note Moldova is making strides towards improving its economy. Wine making and tourism are big contributors to the economy.

Travel Resources: 

Tourism is geared towards familiarizing visitors with its beautiful landscape and its vineyards by way of wine tours. The various museums, monasteries and the villages help the visitor unwind. Its cuisine is traditional European with beef, pork, cabbage, and potatoes featuring in its menu.

Resource	ISBN or ASIN	Best Price	Description
Romania and Moldova – Lonely Planet Travel Guides	978-1741044782	$20	Moldova is covered in about 40 pages – the section has excellent tips for travelers. The rest of the book (around 300 pages) is Romania and a travelers introduction (60 pages).
Ukraine Belorussia Moldova Map by Cartographia	978-9633524701	$15	1:2,000,000 Scale. Places of interests marked.
Moldova Grounded Adapter Plug – GUB	B001FD4OVM	$7

Philatelic Profile:

The first stamps of Moldova were a set of three stamps released on June 23, 1991 showing Coat of Arms and Flag. The set (Scott #1 to #3) catalogs for around a dollar MNH or used. The country became independent following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. However, a strip of land covering 1607 square miles on the eastern Moldovan border with Ukraine is the breakaway territory of Transnistria.

Other issues of Moldova enjoying good philatelic interest include:

1. A set of four stamps released on January 17, 1997 in the Wines of Moldova theme. The set (Scott #225 to #228) catalogs for around $3 MNH or used. The wine varieties shown are Feteasca, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Sauvignon, and Rara Neagra. Moldova has a history of winemaking as the occupation of a majority of the population. The wine is primarily made for export and many families have their own recipes and strands of grapes that have been passed down through generations. Milestii Mici, an industrial complex founded in 1969 to store high-quality wines is known as the world’s biggest wine cellar. It holds nearly 2 million bottles beginning with 1969.
2. A set of four stamps released on April 12, 2000 to mark major events of the twentieth century. The set (Scott #349 to #352) catalogs for around $8 MNH or used. The designs show moon landing, nuclear fission, global computerization, and reconciliation between Patriarch Teoctist and Pope John Paul II. Teoctist was the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church from 1986 to 2007. He was a promoter of ecumenical dialog and invited Pope John Paul II in 1999. That was first visit of a Pope to a predominantly Eastern Orthodox country since 1054. Eastern Orthodox Christians make up over 93% of the population.
3. A set of two stamps released on October 6, 2002 to mark the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Summit. The set (Scott #430 and #431) catalogs for around $6 MNH or used. The designs show CIS emblem and National leaders and flags, and handshake. CIS was founded on December 8, 1991 when the leaders of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine met and signed a Creation Agreement on the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the creation of CIS as a successor entity to the USSR.  On December 21, 1991, the leaders of eight additional Soviet Republics including Moldova signed the Alma-Ata protocol and joined the CIS. 

Numismatic Profile:

The first coin of Moldova is a Republic Decimal Coinage (100 Bani = 1 Leu) Aluminum Ban issued in 1993 showing National Arms in Obverse and Value dividing date above monogram in Reverse. The issue is common and catalogs well under a dollar for BU. Moldova has issued several commemorative silver proofs over the years starting with the Monastery building issue of 2000. They are valued at a slight premium over bullion value.

Numismatic items of Moldova include:

Item	Price Range	Description
Coins	$1 and up	Common UNCs from the 1990s and 2000s start around $1. 100-piece First Issue Sets in UNC start around $20. Commemorative Silver Proofs start around $50 and can go into the $100 range.
Paper Money	$1 and up	Common UNCs starts around $1. Scarce first issue banknotes start around $5. Scarce Dates and Low Serial Numbers start around $20. Bundles from 100 to 1000 pieces start around $50 and go well into the 100s.

Collectible Memorabilia:

Local wines, divin (local brandy) and handicrafts are the typical souvenirs of the place.

Resource	Price Range	Description
Miscellaneous Collectibles	$3 and up	Patches, Magnets, Pins, Postcards, etc start around $3. Soviet Moldova Mechanic, Union, Order Badges and Medals start in the 100s.

Last Updated: 12/2015.