16 mm diameter, 1.7 g, 95% steel plated with 5% nickel, flat edge denomination "5 BANI" and year 1963	Romanian coat of arms Mintage: 95.700.000 coins

In comparison with the 5 bani from 1966 and 1975, is a rare coin.

In the monograph Monede şi bancnote româneşti (Buzdugan, Luchian and Oprescu, 1977) these coins are presumed to be made from nickel. It seems to be in fact nickel plated steel. The rust on the edge of the heavy worn coins is a good argument in support of the steel core, because nickel is very resistant to corrosion.

In the book Monetele României (Coins of Romania, by Iliescu and Radovici, 2004) is mentioned thatthis coin was struck in 1963 - 1966, all coins bearing the same year 1960. Knowing that the Socialist Republic of Romania was proclaimed on August 21st 1965 by the Great National Assembly, who adopted a new constitution, striking coins with the People's Republic coat of arms in 1966 looks a bit weird. There is one explanation: the Socialist Republic' coins with year 1966 were released into circulation starting from 1967.