Thelek (Albanian:leku shqiptar; indefinite singularlek, definite plurallekët, indefinite plurallekë;sign:L;[1]code:ALL) is thecurrency ofAlbania. Historically, it was subdivided into 100qintars (Albanian:qindarka; singularqindarkë).
The lek was introduced as the first Albanian currency in February 1926.[2]
Before then, Albania was a country without a currency, using agold standard to fix commercial values. Before the First World War, theOttoman Turkish piastre was in full circulation. During the occupation of Albania byAustria-Hungary, paper notes of theAustro-Hungarian krone were imposed on the population. Albanians were reluctant to use these notes and only did so in exchanges with the occupiers. The majority of the population used gold and silver piastres, or gave up on money altogether andbartered instead.[3] In 1923, Italian paper circulated atShkodër,Durrës,Vlorë, andGjirokastër, and theGreek drachma atKorçë, the values of which varied according to locality and the prevailing rates of exchange as compared with gold.[4]
From 1926 to 1939, the Albanian leke adhered to thegold standardde jure, with leke banknotes being convertible to gold. The leke's conversion to gold was guaranteed and the issue ofgold francs was limited to three million units.[5] Due to the gold standard, until 1939, the leke did not undergo significant inflation, and the amount of currency in circulation remained relatively constant.[6] Following theItalian invasion of Albania, the entire gold reserves of Albania, totaling 300,000 gold francs, were confiscated and sent to theReichsbank in Berlin. This action, coupled with the introduction of the Italian lira in Albania, led to significant inflation and the devaluation of the leke.[7]
The naming of this currency as "Leke" has two conflicting stories:
It is named afterAlexander the Great,[8] whose name is often shortened toLeka in Albanian.[9] where Alexander's portrait appeared on theobverse of the 1 lek coin, while the reverse showed him on his horse.
The wordqindarkë comes from theAlbanianqind, meaning one hundred, or fromArabicqintār ("hundredweight"). The word is thus comparable tocentime,cent, Latincentenarius, etc.
Between 1926 and 1939, the main unit of Albanian currency was thefranga ari (English:gold franc) (Fr.A.), worth 5 Lek and divided into 100qindar ar (gold cent),[12] used in international transactions.[13] This unit was similar in concept to theBelga, a unit worth fiveBelgian francs.
In 1926, bronze coins were introduced in denominations of 5 and 10 qintars, together with nickel1⁄4 Lek,1⁄2 Lek and 1 Lek, and silverFr.A. 1, Fr.A. 2 and Fr.A. 5 . The obverse of the franc coins depictsKingZog. In 1935, bronze 1 and 2 gold cents were issued, equal in value to the 5 and 10 qintars respectively. This coin series depicted distinct neoclassical motifs, said to have been influenced by the Italian kingVictor 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 ofBenito Mussolini, Italy invaded and occupied Albania and issued a new series of coins in 1939 in denominations of Lek 0.20, Lek 0.50, 1 Lek and 2 Lek in stainless steel, and 5 Lek and 10 Lek in silver. Aluminium-bronze Lek 0.05 and Lek 0.10 were introduced in 1940. A fixed exchange rate with theItalian lira was established at 5:6.25 (1 Lek = Lit.1.25, or Fr.A.1 = Lit.6.25). These coins were issued until 1941 and bear the portrait of Italian King Victor Emmanuel III on the obverse and the Albanian eagle withfasces 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 zinc1⁄2 Lek, 1 Lek, 2 Lek and 5 Lek. These all depicted the socialist national crest. This coinage was again minted in 1957 and used until the currency reform of 1965.
In 1965, a confiscatory monetary reform was carried out at a rate of 10:1.
Aluminium coins (dated 1964) were introduced in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 qintars and 1 Lek. All coins show the socialist state emblem.
In 1969, a second series of aluminium 5, 10, 20, 50 qintars 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 showed "1944-1969" on the obverse. The 50 qintar and lek coins showed patriotic and military images.
In 1988, a third redesign of aluminium 5, 10, 20, 50 qintars and 1 Lek coins was released. The 50 qindarka and 1 Lek coins were problematically identical in size, weight, and appearance, so aluminium-bronze 1 Lek coins with the inscription "Republika Popullore Socialiste e Shqipërisë" were released later that year for better identification. In 1989, acupro-nickel 2 Lek coin was introduced.
All three of these coin series remained in circulation during and shortly after the 1991 revolution. On 1 January 1992, those coins lost their legal tender status, effectively making qintars obsolete.
Similar to many other socialist countries, Albania issuedforeign exchange certificates, which only circulated in specially designated shops, and their exchange into regular lek banknotes was prohibited.
In 1995 and 1996, new coins were introduced in denominations of 1 Lek, 5 Lekë, 10 Lekë, 20 Lekë and 50 Lekë, with a bimetallic 100 Lekë added in 2000.These coins use the lettere instead of the correctë, but banknotes are spelt correctly.
In 2001, 100 Lekë and 200 Lekë were issued under the theme ofAlbania's integration into the EU and 50, 100, and 200 lekë under the 500th anniversary of theStatue of David. In 2002, 50 Lekë and 100 Lek were issued for the 90th Anniversary of theIndependence of Albania and 20 Lek under the Albanian Antiquity theme. In 2003, 50 lekë was issued in memory of the 100th anniversary of the death ofJeronim De Rada. In 2004, 50 Lekë was issued under the Albanian Antiquity theme depictingtraditional costumes of Albania and the ancient Dea. In 2005, 50 Lekë were issued for the 85th anniversary of the proclamation ofTirana 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 Fr.A. 1, Fr.A. 5, Fr.A. 20 and Fr.A. 100. In 1939, notes were issued in denominations of Fr.A. 5 and Fr.A. 20. These were followed in 1944 with notes for 2 Lek, 5 Lek, 10 Lek, and Fr.A. 100.
In 1945, the People's Bank of Albania (Banka e Shtetit Shqiptar) issued overprints on National Bank notes for 10 Lek, Fr.A. 20 and Fr.A. 100. Regular notes were also issued in 1945 in denominations of 1, Fr.A. 5, Fr.A. 20, Fr.A. 100 and Fr.A. 500. In 1947, the franga-ari was discontinued and the lek was adopted as the main currency unit, with notes issued for 10 Lek, 50 Lek, 100 Lek, 500 Lek and 1000 Lek.
In 1965, notes (dated 1964) were introduced by the Banka e Shtetit Shqiptar in denominations of 1 Lek, 3 Lek, 5 Lek, 10 Lek, 25 Lek, 50 Lek and 100 Lek. A second series of notes was issued in 1976 when the country changed its name to the People's Socialist Republic.
Due to the shortage of cash in circulation, in 1992, banknotes of 10 and 50 foreign currency leks (Lek Valutë ) were issued, while their value was increased 50 times: 10 foreign currency leks = 500 leks, 50 foreign currency leks = 2500 leks . The banknotes were in circulation for only one year and were soon replaced by banknotes of the 1992 model. A banknote of 1 currency lek was printed, but not put into circulation.[17]
In 2019, theBank of Albania unveiled a new series of banknotes, featuring the same themes as seen on the 1997 series, but with improved security features and a change in material for the 200 Lek banknote; now being issued as apolymer banknote.
This series has also introduced a new denomination, the 10,000 Lek, 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 Lek and 10,000 Lek banknotes being released on 30 June 2021, and the 2,000 Lek and 500 Lek banknotes being released on 17 January 2022.
^Jürgen Fischer, Bernd (1999).Albania at War 1939-1945. United Kingdom: C Hurst & Co. p. 48.ISBN1-85065-531-6.
^State, US Dept of. (1970).Foreign Relations of the United States: 1946. United States of America: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 806.
^Leslie Alan Dunkling; Adrian Room (1 January 1990).The Guinness Book of Money. Guinness Publishing. p. 67.ISBN978-0-85112-399-8....the leke takes its name from the abbreviated name of Alexander the Great, who was associated with this region of Europe...
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