37 mm diameter, 31.103 g, silver 99,9%, ornamented edge Obverse: ROMANIA, year 2003, Romanian coat of arms, denomination value 500 LEI, a piano and a violin, over the piano the composer's signature	Reverse: composer bust over a staff with some notes, circular inscription CIPRIAN PORUMBESCU, 1853 - 1883 between two f-shaped sound holes Issuing date: 21st of July 2003 Mintage: 500 coins

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

About Ciprian Porumbescu

Composer Ciprian Porumbescu was born in 1853 in the village of Şipote (or Şipotele Sucevei), a village placed nearby the Izvoarele Sucevei village, where the source of Suceava River lies. "Izvoarele" translates as "The Springs" while "Şipotele" could translate as "The Trickles". Şipotele Sucevei have been under Austrian occupation from 1775 until the Great Union of 1918. During Great Romania the village belonged to the County of Rădăuţi. As consequence of the German-Soviet Pact known as the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact and of the Second World War, Şipotele Sucevei became part of Ukraine while Izvoarele Sucevei stayed in Romania.

He is considered to be one of the predecessors of Romanian music. During his studies in Vienna he edited a "Collection of Social Songs for the Romanian Students".

His best known creations are operetta Crescent, Serenade, Ballad for Violin and Piano (the violin and the piano appearing on this very coin).

Ciprian Porumbescu composed the music for the Albanian national anthem, "Hymni i Flamurit", i.e. Flag's Hymn, song known in Romania as the famous patriotic song "Imnul unirii - Pe-al nostru steag e scris Unire", i.e. Union's Hymn - On Our Flag "Union" Is Written.

The composition "Three Colours", also belonging to him, has provided the music for the national anthem of Romania from the 70's over to 1989.

The mechanical musical clock of the Agapia monastery has played for long years the famous Ballad of Ciprian Porumbescu (up until fifteen years ago).

Below are presented - through the kind permission of an anonymous donor - the pictures of a brass essay for 500 lei 2003 Ciprian Porumbescu. The essay has 23.36 g and 37 mm.

Below are presented - through the kind permission of Mr. Alan Glasser - the pictures of a tombac essay for 500 lei 2003 Ciprian Porumbescu.

In [1], three types of essays of 500 lei 2003 Ciprian Porumbescu are listed: brass, gilded brass and aluminum-magnesium alloy. No tombac essay is recorded. As a result, a question arises, namely, what are the real compositions of the alloys used to mint the essays. There is no certificate on the Internet that would attest the material of any essay. Perhaps the identification of the material was done only visually? In this case, the legitimate suspicion arises that sometimes the material was identified erroneously.

References

1. Schäffer E., România. Jetoane, semne valorice şi mărci, Guttenbrun, 2012.