In 1951, the Bulgarian National Bank put into circulation 7 banknotes, with denominations of 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 leva. All banknotes feature watermarks and anti-copy elements as protective measures.
The faces of the 3 and 5 leva banknotes depict the coat-of-arms of the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the text "People's Republic of Bulgaria". The backs of the banknotes depict a hammer and a sickle, symbol of the workers' and peasants' support for the Communist government. The face of the 10 leva banknote depicts Georgi Dimitrov (the first Communist leader of Bulgaria until his death in 1949), the coat-of-arms of the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the text "People's Republic of Bulgaria". The back of the banknote depicts a field being cultivated with agricultural machines.
The face of the 25 leva banknote depicts Georgi Dimitrov (the first Communist leader of Bulgaria until his death in 1949), the coat-of-arms of the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the text "People's Republic of Bulgaria". The back of the banknote depicts the construction of a railroad by numerous workers.
The face of the 50 leva banknote depicts Georgi Dimitrov (the first Communist leader of Bulgaria until his death in 1949), the coat-of-arms of the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the text "People's Republic of Bulgaria". The back of the banknote depicts a rose-picker in the famed Valley of the Roses near Kazanluk, Bulgaria. (Note: 70% of the world's supply of rose oil extract, used to produce any fragrance, originates in Bulgaria's Valley of the Roses.)
The face of the 100 leva banknote depicts Georgi Dimitrov (the first Communist leader of Bulgaria until his death in 1949), the coat-of-arms of the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the text "People's Republic of Bulgaria". The back of the banknote depicts a grape-picker with the fruits of her labor.
The face of the 200 leva banknote depicts Georgi Dimitrov (the first Communist leader of Bulgaria until his death in 1949), the coat-of-arms of the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the text "People's Republic of Bulgaria". The back of the banknote depicts peasants working in a tobbaco field.
