Depicts the 1st coat of arms of the People's Republic of Bulgaria (1948–1968) surrounded by the country name People's Republic of Bulgaria.

In the communist era, the traditional type of coat of arms was replaced by the emblem, which preserved the golden lion rampant placed over a non-historically-justifiable oval azure field, but encircled by the ears of wheat, folded by banners '9 IX 1944' (9 September 1944), a gear-wheel, a five-pointed red star and some other elements. This composition was derived principally from the pattern of the emblem of the Soviet Union.

Denomination above date at right, grain sprig (wheat stem) at left.