35 mm diameter, 31.103 grams, gold 99.9%, proof quality, flat edge Obverse: denomination "5000 Lei" aside the Endless Column of Tîrgu-Jiu, ROMANIA, year 2001 and Romanian coat of arms	Reverse: bust and autograph of the sculptor and inscription CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI 1876 - 2001, initials V. G. under the right shoulder standing for Vasile Gabor Issuing date: 15th of March 2001 Mintage: 500 coins

The pictures of the coin above are present on Romanian coins through the kind permission of Mr. J. Ardelean.

About Romanian Sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi

Born at Hobiţa, in the county of Gorj, Brâncuşi was the pupil of Paciurea in Bucharest and of the famous French sculptor Rodin in Paris, major metropolis of art where Constantin Brâncuşi settles definitively in 1904.

In his work he shaped volumes and rhythms, capturing the essential of the forms. Among the most famous creations of Brâncuşi there are Magistral Bird, Beginning of the World, The Cock, Prayer, Bird in Space and Miss Pogany.

The assembly of Tîrgu-Jiu, comprising the Gate of the Kiss, the Table of Silence and the Endless Column is a chef-d'oevre of the monumental sculpture. This assembly was inaugurated in 1938. The opinion exists that these monuments were made in the memory of the heroes fallen during the First World War called, at the time, the Great War for National Recompletion. A more complete and correct name then for the Endless Column (pictured on the coin) would be Column of Endless Gratitude.

In 2001 the Republic of Moldova issued a silver coin of 50 lei dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the birth of Constantin Brâncuşi. We must observe that the Romanian coin - issued on March 15th 2001 - used the image of the Endless Column, and the Moldavian coin - issued on November 5th on the same year - feature the Gate of the Kiss and the Table of Silence. The assembly of Tîrgu-Jiu is thus complete!

35 mm diameter, 16.9 g, gilded brass, flat edge Obverse: denomination "5000 Lei" aside the Endless Column of Tîrgu-Jiu, ROMANIA, year 2001 and Romanian coat of arms	Reverse: bust and autograph of the sculptor and inscription CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI 1876 - 2001, initials V. G. under the right shoulder standing for Vasile Gabor

The gilded brass pattern pictures above are present on Romanian coins through the kind permission of an anonymous donor.