East Bulgarian Lev

The Lev is the currency of East Bulgaria.

First lev, 1881–1952
During World war II, in 1940, the lev was pegged to the German Reichsmark at a rate of 32.75 leva = 1 Reichsmark. With the Soviet occupation in September 1944, the lev was pegged to the Soviet ruble at 15 leva = 1 ruble. A series of pegs to the U.S. dollar followed: 120 leva = 1 dollar in October 1945, 286.50 leva in December 1945 and 143.25 leva in March 1947. No coins were issued after 1943; only banknotes were issued until the currency reform of 1952.

Second lev, 1952–1961
In 1952, following wartime inflation, a new lev replaced the original lev at a rate of 1 "new" lev = 100 "old" leva. However the rate for banking accounts was different, ranging from 100:3 to 200:1. Prices for goods were replaced at a rate of 25:1. The new lev was pegged to the U. S. dollar at a rate of 6.8 leva = 1 dollar, falling to 31 leva on July 29, 1957.

Third lev, 1961–1978
A third lev was made in 1961 at 200:1. soon inflation was terrible and by 1970 you needed 5000 lev to buy a bread.

Fourth lev,
A fourth lev came in 1978 at 10000:1 but this one too had inflation, but much slower. Nowadays the bills are of 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 (which is worth $20). Coins are of 5, 10 and 20 lev. Bills of 10000, 25000 and 50000 are made but are legal only for party members and military officials.