A portrait of Stefan Stambolov is the main feature on the obverse side of the banknote. The central part carries a cover facsimile of his anthology "Songs and Poems" issued in Bucharest in 1877, and his poem "To My Comrades". Below appears the Seal of the Edinstvo (Unity) Committee in Tarnovo, whose co-founder Stambolov was. Stefan Stambolov (1854 - 1895), this most resolute, uncompromising and controversial of Bulgarian statesmen grasped the perilous historic task of modernising the nation. Participant in the National Liberation struggle, poet National Unification activist National Assembly Deputy, Chairman, Regent, and Prime Minister, Stambolov put Bulgaria upon the map of European statesmanship.

The reverse of the banknote depicts the National Assembly building and fragments of Orlov Most and Lavov Most (Sofia's Eagle and Lion Bridges): public edifices linked with his period in office; and manuscript in his hand.

Background colour - blue.
Paper - 100% cotton, in violet tones.
Dimensions - 131 x 73 mm.

Security Features
Anti-copy Stripe - a hologram stripe consisting of alternating images of an eagle (an element of the design on the reverse of the banknote), the figure "20" and the text "ËÅÂÀ" (LEVS) appearing as miniprint, which change their colour when seen from a different angle.
Security Thread - a thread incorporated in the banknote paper with the text "ÁÍÁ 20" (BNB 20) appearing as a negative microprint.
Watermark - a half-tone outline of the portrait depicted on the banknote.
Fluorescence - elements of the pattern, serial numbers and fibres in the paper fluoresce under UV light.
Transparent register element - when the banknote is held against the light the figure "20" is seen in a square checkered field.
Microprint on the obverse - to the left of the portrait there are alternating lines with the texts: "ÑÒÅÔÀÍ ÑÒÀÌÁÎËÎÂ" (STEFAN STAMBOLOV), "1854 - 1895" and "20 ËÅÂÀ" (20 LEVS); to the right of the portrait in the two vertical lines: the text "ÑÒÅÔÀÍ ÑÒÀÌÁÎËÎÂ" (STEFAN STAMBOLOV); the text "20 ËÅÂÀ" (20 LEVS) printed within the boundaries of the denomination figure "20"; the figure "20" forming a stripe underneath the shoulder of the portrait image.
Microprint on the reverse - above the image of the lion - a stripe of figures "20"; in the right side of the banknote - the figure "20".
The obverse of the banknote features the embossed texts "ÁÚËÃÀÐÑÊÀ ÍÀÐÎÄÍÀ ÁÀÍÊÀ", "ÄÂÀÄÅÑÅÒ ËÅÂÀ" (BULGARIAN NATIONAL BANK, TWENTY LEVS), the figure of the denomination "20", the vignette, and the text "20 ËÅÂÀ" (20 LEVS) on the anti-copy stripe.
Designation for blind people - two embossed circles.