In compliance with Law no. 548 -XIII dated July 21, 1995 on the National Bank of Moldova, the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the National Bank of Moldova "on the minting of jubilee and commemorative coins" no. 219 dated March 20, 2001 and according to the Decision of the Council of Administration of the National Bank of Moldova no. 279 dated October 25, 2001, the National Bank of Moldova issued, beginning with November 5, 2001, the commemorative coin dedicated to the 180th Anniversary from the birth of Vasile Alecsandri as a means of payment and for numismatic purpose.

A circular border stands out on the edge of both the obverse and the reverse.
Turning the coin against the verticall axis at an angle of 180 degrees sets the image on the obverse and the reverse of the coin.

Description:

	Obverse: The Coat of Arms of the Republic of Moldova is placed in the central part; The figure "2001" is placed in the upper part; The inscription "50 LEI" is placed in the bottom part; The inscription "REPUBLICA MOLDOVA" is engraved in the upper part of the obverse following the coin circumference.
	Reverse: The effigy of Vasile Alecsandri, the images of a book and a writing feather are placed in the central part; A landscape is placed on the right side of the upper part; The inscription "VASILE ALECSANDRI" and the years of life "1821-1890" are placed in the bottom part of the reverse following the coin circumference.