The anniversary medal '160 Years of the Royal Crown', an exceptional issue dedicated to the historical, symbolic and institutional continuity of the Crown of Romania, was launched on Tuesday at Elisabeta Palace by the State Mint, in the presence of the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, Her Majesty Margareta.
'Today, Mint staff are people of their time. They work with electronic instruments, deliver their products to several countries around the world; through their institution, they too are an expression of freedom and democracy. In terms of numismatics, they represent a Romania that is very different from the one our generation knew when we were young. Together with specialists in heraldry and history, they found the creative strength to bring you today a beautiful creation that symbolically consolidates these 160 years of modern Romanian history - a history written seamlessly by the nation through its hardships, by the Crown, and by the key institutions that define today's state,' said Prince Radu.
The State Mint's director general, Octavian Schen, who recalled in his address key moments in the shared history of the Royal House and the Mint, said that producing the medal was not only the completion of an artistic project but also an act of memory and respect.
'Through this piece, we wanted to express our gratitude to the Royal House of Romania and to the essential role the Crown has played in shaping our national identity, dignity and path,' Schen underscored.
He noted that 'the obverse of the medal is built around the idea of continuity'.
'The five effigies, brought together in a single composition, evoke not only distinct personalities but a succession of historical milestones that shaped Romania's destiny. (...) This assembly visually expresses a living, coherent and dignified history. The unitary composition features the effigies of King Carol I, King Ferdinand I, King Carol II, King Mihai I and Her Majesty Margareta, illustrating the continuity of a history spanning more than a century and a half,' Schen explained.
Above the effigies stands the motto 'Nihil Sine Deo', which naturally accompanies the medal's message.
'It is a formula that speaks of faith, responsibility and the assumption of a mission in service of a higher ideal. The inscription 'Romanian Crown - 160 Years' sets the anniversary frame, while the years 1866 and 2026 create the symbolic bridge between the beginning and the present, between the founding moment and the continuity of this historical journey. At the bottom, the crown and the mention 'May 10' reference one of the essential dates of our modern history, with profound significance for Romanian statehood and the monarchical institution. The decorative branches framing the composition, suggestive of laurel and oak, add a symbolic dimension of honour, endurance, dignity and victory through patience and construction,' the State Mint's director general said.
He added that 'the reverse complements the message of the obverse in a remarkable way'.
'At its centre is the map of Romania, as an expression of unity and of the space where this history took shape and meaning. Surrounding it are symbolic representations referring to essential areas of national development - culture, education, spirituality, solidarity, performance, institutional construction and national identity. More than being just a descriptive composition, the reverse suggests the idea that under the sign of the Crown, modern Romania was built not only politically but also morally, culturally and institutionally. The medal thus gains a much broader dimension. It does not merely commemorate a symbol; it evokes a model of historical construction. Taken as a whole, this medal speaks of continuity - the continuity of a history, of values, and of a profound bond between the symbols of the Romanian state and the institutions that have given them expression over time,' Octavian Schen explained.
Alongside the Custodian of the Crown of Romania, Her Majesty Margareta, the event was attended by Princess Sofia, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of state institutions, the Romanian Academy, the Romanian Orthodox Church and civil society figures. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)
