How to Identify the 20 Lei

Read the Portrait and Legend

Start with the obverse. The genuine type shows the bare head of Carol I in profile facing left, encircled by a legend naming him as ruler of the Romanians (readings such as CAROL I DOMNULU ROMANILORU). The head is uncrowned, which fits his position as ruling prince, not king, at this date. A crowned bust or a different name points to a different coin or a later Romanian issue.

Confirm the Reverse and Denomination

The reverse must show the Romanian coat of arms, a shield with quartered emblems and decorative surrounds, together with the value 20 LEI and the date 1870. The written denomination and date are the surest confirmation of the type. If the value reads something other than 20 LEI, or the date differs, you are looking at another coin.

Check Size, Weight, and Metal

This is a small gold coin made to the Latin Monetary Union standard, roughly 21 mm in diameter and about 6.45 grams at .900 fineness, the same specification as a 20-franc gold piece. It should feel dense and heavy for its modest size and be non-magnetic. A lightweight, oversized, magnetic, or off-color example is an immediate warning sign.

Rule Out Look-Alikes

Romania and neighboring Latin Monetary Union countries struck many gold pieces of similar diameter, including later Romanian gold and the 20-franc and 20-lira coins of other nations. Matching every cue together, the left-facing bare-headed Carol I bust, the Romanian arms, the 20 LEI value, the 1870 date, and the correct gold weight, is what pins down this exact first-year type rather than a similar-sized foreign coin.

Authentication Cautions

Because it is a scarce and valuable early gold coin, this type attracts counterfeits, cast copies, and altered pieces. Weigh and measure the coin precisely and compare the portrait, arms, and lettering to trusted reference images, watching for wrong weight, soft or mushy detail, seams, or incorrect color. Cleaning and damage reduce value, so favor original surfaces, and for any significant purchase seek third-party authentication before relying on the coin as genuine.