Real coins·6 March 2026·4 min read
The lev — the "lion" across the Danube
Like the Romanian leu, Bulgaria's currency is named after lions. Two neighbors, the same inspiration.
Bulgaria's currency, the lev, means "lions" — exactly like the Romanian leu. Both names come from the same era when lion thalers circulated across the region.
Neighbors with related currencies
It's a fine example of how monetary history links peoples: the same Dutch lion coin named the money of two neighboring countries. Money always carries traces of shared history.
