The
Bulgarian currency is the Bulgarian lev (BGL) and its plural, leva.
Every lev used to consist of 100 stotinki (st), but inflation has
led to the elimination of the stotinki. Leva notes are available in
denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000, and 10000. Leva
coins in use are 2, 5, and 10.
After the fall of Communism in Bulgaria, new editions of leva notes
were printed, and all notes dating prior to 1974 have been declared
worthless. To ensure against receiving counterfeit notes, always check
for the Bulgarian Lion watermark. The deregulation of the lev on the
exchange market has caused foreign currency, and in particular United
States dollars (USD), to become very popular with the Bulgarian population.
Blackmarket currency exchanges and upstart banks vie with airport
shop owners and taxi drivers in attempts to separate tourists from
their foreign currency. Local currency may not be taken out of the
country.
The
Bulgarian currency is the Bulgarian lev (BGL) and its plural, leva.
Every lev used to consist of 100 stotinki (st), but inflation has
led to the elimination of the stotinki. Leva notes are available in
denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000, and 10000. Leva
coins in use are 2, 5, and 10.