In addition to Romania, the coin has been minted in the United Kingdom (1867), Belgium (1894, 1910–1912 and 1914), Germany (1900–1901, 1910–1911 and 1914), Switzerland (1921), Hungary (1947), and Russia (1952).
The obverse featured the Romanian crown and the date underneath, within a wreath of laurel and oak branches.
Below the wreath was the name STERN of the engraver, and at the top of the coin was the mintmark of the mint in Brussels, Belgium, where it was struck.
[2] In 1884, a third fifty-bani commenced minting in Bucharest, Romania's capital, with the same dimensions and composition of the previous two.
The reverse featured the crown of Romania above olive branches, with the country's name on the left, the denomination on the right and the date below.
Although not a member of the Latin Monetary Union, Romania agreed to its weights and measured which aimed to create a universal currency around Europe.
[5] A sixth fifty-bani was minted exclusively in 1921, with 30 million produced in Le Locle, Switzerland by the company Huguenin Frères (brothers) & Co.
On the obverse was the eagle from the Romanian coat of arms, with a Christian cross in his beak, perched on top of the hole.
[6] After a monetary reform on 15 August 1947, 20,000 old lei became a new leu, and a fifty-bani coin was briefly re-introduced.
The obverse featured the communist coat of arms of Romania and the inscription around it REPUBLICA POPULARA ROMÎNA (Romanian People's Republic).
The reverse featured a male worker making tongs on an anvil, with a background of smoking chimneys, conveyor belts and silos.
[10] A commemorative coin featuring Romanian aeronautical pioneer Aurel Vlaicu was released on 25 October 2010 to mark the centennial of his first flight in 1910.
[11] On 12 September 2011, a second commemorative was released as part of a series on Christian art in the feudal era.
The reverse featured the Cozia Monastery within the '0' of '50', with the country's name in mediaeval writing at the top, the year on the left, and coat of arms at the bottom.
Five million were issued,[12] as well as 500 proof coins in the denomination 200 lei, made of pure gold.