Albanian lek

The lek was named after Alexander the Great,[3] whose name is often shortened to Leka in Albanian.[4] Alexander's portrait appeared on the obverse of the 1 lek coin, while the reverse showed him on his horse.

The name qindarkë comes from the Albanian qind, meaning one hundred. The word is thus similar in formation to centime, cent, etc.

Between 1926 and 1939 the name Franga was used for Albanian gold currency worth five Albanian Lekë for use in international transactions.[5] A similar alternate name Belga was used for units of five Belgian francs.

In 1926, bronze coins were introduced in denominations of 5 and 10 qindar leku, together with nickel ​¹⁄₄, ​¹⁄₂ and 1 lek, and silver 1, 2 and 5 franga ar. The obverse of the franga coins depicts Amet Zogu. In 1935, bronze 1 and 2 qindar ar were issued, equal in value to the 5 and 10 qindar leku respectively. This coin series depicted distinct neoclassical motifs, said to have been influenced by the Italian king Victor Emmanuel III who was known to have been a coin collector. These coins depict the mint marks "R", "V" or "L", indicating Rome, Vienna or London.

Under the direction of Benito Mussolini, Italy invaded and occupied Albania and issued a new series of coins in 1939 in denominations 0.20, 0.50, 1 and 2 lek in stainless steel, and silver 5, and 10 lek were introduced, with the silver coins only issued that year. Aluminium-bronze 0.05 and 0.10 lek were introduced in 1940. A fixed exchange with the Italian lira at 1:6.25 was established. These coins were issued until 1941 and bear the portrait of Italian King Victor Emmanuel III on the obverse and the Albanian eagle with fasces on the reverse.

In 1947, shortly after the Communist Party took power, older coins were withdrawn from circulation and a new coinage was introduced, consisting of zinc ​¹⁄₂, 1, 2 and 5 lekë. These all depicted the socialist national crest. This coinage was again minted in 1957 and used until the currency reform of 1965.

In 1965, the old lek banknotes and coins were exchanged into new ones, 10:1 (the amount allowed for exchange was limited).

Aluminium coins (dated 1964) were introduced in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 qindar and 1 lek. All coins show the socialist state emblem.

In 1969, a second series of aluminum 5, 10, 20, 50 qindar and 1 lek coins was released commemorating the 1944 liberation from fascism. The three smallest denominations remained similar in design to the 1964 series but depicted "1944-1969" on the obverse. The 50 qindarka and lek coins showed patriotic and military images.

In 1988, a third redesign of aluminum 5, 10, 20, 50 qindarka and 1 lek coins was released. The 50 qindarka and 1 lek coins were problematically identical in size, weight, and appearance, so aluminum-bronze 1 lek coins with the inscription "Republika Popullore Socialiste e Shqipërisë" were released later that year for better identification. In 1989, a cupro-nickel 2 lekë coin was introduced.

All three of these coin series remained in circulation during and shortly after the 1991 revolution.

In 1995 and 1996, new coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 lekë, with a bimetallic 100 lekë added in 2000. The 1 lek coin is not practically in use.

Coins of the lek (1995–present)[6]
Obverse	Reverse	Value	Technical parameters			Description
			Diameter	Mass	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse
		1 lek	18.1 mm	3 g	bronze (1996), Copper-plated Steel (2008-2013)	Smooth	A pelican in the center, "Republika e Shqipërisë", year	Nominal value, branches artistically carved in the form of a crown.
		5 lekë	20 mm	3.12 g	Nickel-plated Steel		Eagle from the Flag of Albania, "Republika e Shqipërisë", year
		10 lekë	21.25 mm	3.6 g	aluminum-bronze (1996-2000), Brass-plated Steel (2009-...)	Reeded	Berat Castle, "Republika e Shqipërisë", year
		20 lekë	23 mm	4.6 g	aluminum-bronze (1996-2000), Brass-plated Steel (2012-2016)	Reeded	A liburne ship,"Republika e Shqipërisë", year of issue.
		50 lekë	24.25 mm	5.5 g	Copper-nickel (1996-2000)	Portrait of the Illyrian King Gentius."Republika e Shqipërisë", year
		100 lekë	24.75 mm	6.7 g	Bi-Metallic Aluminium-bronze center in Copper-nickel ring	Portrait of the Illyrian Queen Teuta,"Republika e Shqipërisë", year
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.

In 2001, 100 and 200 lekë were issued under the theme of Albania's integration into the EU and 50, 100, and 200 lekë under the 500th anniversary of the Statue of David. In 2002, 50 lekë and 100 lekë were issued for the 90th Anniversary of the Independence of Albania and 20 lekë under the Albanian Antiquity theme. In 2003, 50 lekë was issued in memory of the 100th anniversary of the death of Jeronim De Rada. In 2004, 50 lekë was issued under the Albanian Antiquity theme depicting traditional costumes of Albania and the ancient Dea. In 2005, 50 lekë were issued for the 85th anniversary of the proclamation of Tirana as capital and the theme of traditional costumes of Albania.

In 1926, the National Bank of Albania (Banka Kombëtare e Shqipnis) introduced notes in denominations of 1, 5, 20 and 100 franka ari. In 1939, notes were issued denominated as 5 and 20 franga. These were followed in 1944 with notes for 2, 5 and 10 lekë and 100 franga.

In 1945, the People's Bank of Albania (Banka e Shtetit Shqiptar) issued overprints on National Bank notes for 10 lekë, 20 and 100 franga. Regular notes were also issued in 1945 in denominations of 1, 5, 20, 100 and 500 franga. In 1947, the lek was adopted as the main denominations, with notes issued for 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 lekë.

1947 series
Obverse	Reverse	Value
		10 lekë
		50 lekë
		100 lekë
		500 lekë
		1,000 lekë
1949 and 1957 series
Obverse	Reverse	Value
		10 lekë
		50 lekë
		100 lekë
		500 lekë
		1,000 lekë

In 1965, notes (dated 1964) were introduced by the Banka e Shtetit Shqiptar in denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 lekë. A second series of notes was issued in 1976 when the country changed its name to the People's Socialist Republic.

1964 and 1976 series
Obverse	Reverse	Value	Colour	Obverse	Reverse
		1 lek	Green	Peasant couple with wheat	Castle of Shkodër
		3 lekë	Brown	Woman carrying basket of fruit	Vlora
		5 lekë	Purple	Steam train and truck	Ship
		10 lekë	Green	Woman working in a textile mill	Bureaucrats and peasants socializing outside the Palace of Culture, Naim Frashëri
		25 lekë	Dark blue	Woman with wheat, combine harvesting	Mechanized ploughing
		50 lekë	Red	Army on parade, Skanderbeg	Rifle, pickaxe, apartment block under construction
		100 lekë	Scarlet	Man showing his son a new hydroelectric dam	Steelworker with oil worker, gesturing grandly, steelworks and oil wells in background

On 11 July 1997, a new series of banknotes dated 1996 was introduced.[7]

Notes dated 1996 were printed by De La Rue in the United Kingdom.

1996 Series[8]
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Colour	Description
Obverse	Reverse				Obverse	Reverse
		100 lekë	130 × 66 mm	Purple	Fan S. Noli	First Albanian Parliament building
		200 lekë	138 × 69mm	Orange	Naim Frashëri	Birthplace of Frashëri
		500 lekë	145 × 68 mm	Blue	Ismail Qemali	Vlorë independence building
		1000 lekë	151 × 72 mm	Green	Pjetër Bogdani	Church of Vau
		2000 lekë	160 x 72 mm	Purple	King Gent (Gentius); three ancient coins	Amphitheatre at Butrinto (near Saranda), yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea)
		5000 lekë	160 × 72 mm	Brown	Skanderbeg	Krujë Castle

The Bank of Albania in 2019 unveiled a new series of banknotes, featuring the same themes on both the front and back side of the notes, improved security features, and a change in material for the 200 lekë banknote, now issued as a polymer banknote. This series has also introduced a new denomination, 10,000 lekë, its highest denominated banknote issued for general circulation. The first two denominations issued for this series, the 200 and 5,000 lekë banknote were issued for circulation on 30 September 2019, with the 1,000 and 10,000 lekë banknotes to be issued in 2020, the 2,000 lekë banknote in 2021 and the 500 lekë banknote in 2022.