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THE FIRST BULGARIAN BANKNOTEThis article in the Bulgarian outlet BNT News discusses the first Bulgarian banknote, housed in the Regional History Museum in Gabrovo. -Garrett 
In the days when Bulgaria has officially adopted the euro and the lev is becoming part of history, we take a look at the first Bulgarian banknote, issued on 1 August 1885. It is preserved at the Regional History Museum in the city of Gabrovo. Its denomination is 20 leva and it was printed 140 years ago at the State Printing House in Saint Petersburg. How did it end up in Gabrovo and what is the story of Bulgaria's first banknotes? More than a century ago, Bulgaria took its first step towards financial independence. By law, the state granted the Bulgarian National Bank the right to issue paper money. Thus, the first Bulgarian banknote came into existence. 
The first series was printed in an extremely small circulation – just 213,000 leva. Its story is almost like a novel. Discovered and preserved by a merchant from Gabrovo, it passed through several generations before finally reaching the museum. "The Tyulenbakov brothers were merchants who, as early as the National Revival period, conducted trade with Romania. Vasil Tyulenbakov, after taking part in various public initiatives, was involved in 1897 in the transfer of the remains of Vasil Aprilov from Galati, where he had died and been buried, to Gabrovo, where they remain to this day. It was around this event, in Romania, that this banknote came into his possession. It must have impressed him, because it was never folded and shows no signs of heavy use. It remained with him and was later passed on to his son, Hristo Tyulenbakov, an educated man, an engineer and a teacher at the Aprilov High School. In 1962, the banknote was sold to what was then the District Historical Museum for 250 leva." From a gold-backed lev to the common European currency – history comes full circle while also opening a new chapter. And the first Bulgarian banknote remains here to remind us where we began, and why money always tells a story that goes far beyond mere numbers.
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Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: Subscribe All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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