Nadia Comăneci honored with a commemorative coin by the NBM
The National Bank of Moldova (NBM) is issuing a commemorative coin titled “The First 10 in Gymnastics History” honouring Nadia Comăneci, the athlete who revolutionised the sport.
The coin, which completes the "Sport" series, celebrates an iconic moment in world sports. By achieving the first-ever perfect score of 10 at an Olympic competition, Nadia Comăneci made history and became a symbol of perfection, ambition, and excellence, the National Bank of Moldova (BNM) notes. Through the issuance of this commemorative coin, the institution immortalizes a landmark achievement in the history of world sports in silver.
"This numismatic piece transcends its material value, becoming a tribute to uncompromising excellence, inner strength, and the human masterpiece that redefined the limits of what is possible. We wish to offer a symbol of perfection that continues to inspire generations, while also bridging cultural divides through this exceptional coin dedicated to sport," stated the Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), Anca Dragu.
The coin is crafted from silver, has a face value of 50 lei, and a mintage of 1,500 units. The State Mint of Romania created the design. Each coin is encased in a transparent methacrylate capsule and housed in a presentation box, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity bearing the NBM Governor's signature.
The certificate includes a QR code that provides direct access to detailed information about the coin's specifications on the institution's official website.
Coin specifications:
- Face value: 50 lei
- Quality: proof
- Metal: silver
- Composition: 999/1000
- Weight: 22 grams
- Diameter: 35 mm
- Shape: round
- Edge: milled
- Mintage: 1,500 pieces.
The story of the "First 10 in Gymnastics History" arrives in Chișinău through an exhibition held from November 13 to 15 at the Palace of the Republic. The event marks 50 years since a Romanian gymnast achieved the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics history at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.
The exhibition is organized by the Department for the Relationship with the Republic of Moldova. Each day, between 10:00 and 18:00, the public can explore the achievements of this great champion.
The official opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at 16:00 and will bring together members of the Romanian Parliament, representatives of public institutions, and sports organizations from both countries—including the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee.
"Through the example of this outstanding champion, children and young people are encouraged to discover the importance of hard work, discipline, and perseverance. Visitors will have the opportunity to see sports equipment, cups, trophies, collectible photographs, and other pieces of sporting history, brought together in an exhibition dedicated to promoting Olympic values and strengthening ties between the younger generations of the Republic of Moldova and Romania," the Ministry of Education and Research said in a press release.
On July 18, 1976, Nadia Comăneci made history at the Montreal Olympic Games by earning the first perfect score of 10 in Olympic gymnastics. At just 14, she earned the score for her performance on the uneven bars. The moment became iconic, partly because the electronic scoreboard displayed "1.00" instead of 10, as it had not been programmed to show a perfect score.
The exhibition in Chișinău is part of a series of events held during the "Nadia Comăneci Year," officially declared in Romania to mark the 50th anniversary of her historic achievement in Montreal.
Commemorative and jubilee coins are available to the public through online orders submitted via the "Currency" section of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM) website or through licensed banks in the Republic of Moldova. These banks may set their own retail prices, provided they do not exceed the price established by the NBM by more than 3%.
