Logo Title
obverse
reverse
Bulgarian National Bank

10 Leva (Bulgarian Aircraft Manufacture) – Bulgaria

Non-circulating coins
Commemoration: 100 Years of Bulgarian Aircraft Manufacture
Bulgaria
Context
Year: 2015
Issuer: Bulgaria Issuer flag
Period:
(since 1990)
Currency:
(since 1999)
Total mintage: 3,000
Material
Diameter: 38.61 mm
Weight: 23.33 g
Silver weight: 21.58 g
Shape: Round
Composition: 92.5% Silver
Magnetic: No
Technique: Milled
Alignment: Medal alignment
Obverse
OBVERSE ↑
flip
Reverse
REVERSE ↑
References
KM: #Click to copy to clipboard334
Numista: #74566
Value
Exchange value: 10 BGN
Bullion value: $62.41

Obverse

Description:
The obverse bears the Bulgarian National Bank logo with "1879" on its ribbon, encircled by "БЪЛГАРСКА НАРОДНА БАНКА," "10 ЛЕВА," and the issue year.
Inscription:
БЪЛГАРСКА НАРОДНА БАНКА

1879

2015 10 ЛЕВА
Translation:
BULGARIAN NATIONAL BANK

1879

2015 10 LEVA
Script: Cyrillic
Language: Bulgarian
Engraver: Stefan Ivanov

Reverse

Description:
Jordanoff-designed Bulgarian biplane.
Inscription:
БЪЛГАРСКО САМОЛЕТОСТРОЕНЕ

100 ГОДИНИ
Translation:
BULGARIAN AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING

100 YEARS
Script: Cyrillic
Language: Bulgarian
Engraver: Stefan Ivanov

Edge

Plain

Mints

NameMark
Bulgarian Mint

Mintings

YearMint MarkMintageQualityCollection
20153,000Proof

Historical background

In 2015, Bulgaria's currency situation was defined by its unique and stable arrangement within the European Union. The country operated under a Currency Board Arrangement (CBA), which had been in place since 1997 to end a period of hyperinflation and banking crisis. This system pegged the Bulgarian lev (BGN) firmly to the euro at a fixed rate of 1.95583 leva per euro, requiring the Bulgarian National Bank to fully back the monetary base with foreign reserves. This provided exceptional macroeconomic stability, low inflation, and a reliable anchor for the economy.

However, this stability existed alongside the unfulfilled political goal of euro adoption. Bulgaria was not yet a member of the Eurozone, though it was part of the EU's Exchange Rate Mechanism II (ERM II), the "waiting room" for joining the single currency. Entry had been delayed for years, primarily due to failure to meet the inflation criterion and broader concerns about economic convergence and governance. The year 2015 saw continued technical preparations, including discussions on banking union integration, but no decisive move toward setting an adoption date.

The broader economic context was one of cautious recovery. Following a banking crisis in 2014 that required state intervention, 2015 was a year of fiscal consolidation and rebuilding confidence under the CBA's constraints. The fixed exchange rate limited monetary policy tools, making the country reliant on fiscal adjustments and structural reforms to address economic challenges. Thus, the currency situation was a cornerstone of stability but also a reminder of the postponed next step in Bulgaria's European integration.
💎 Very Rare