Albania: New Series of Banknotes

[Bimat]

New Series of Banknotes in Release This Fall

JULY 3, 2019

TIRANA, July 3

In the fall of this year, the Bank of Albania will release in circulation the new series of banknotes, and the first ones will be for the cuts of 200 and 5.000 Leke (the Albanian currency). Gradually the new series will include all of the banknotes in use. Virjon Lalollari, the Chief of the Department of Emission in the Bank of Albania, has said in an interview that the current series it's been in circulation for more than 20 years, meanwhile the new cut will have the same theme but will be redesigned, and most important the new banknotes will have more security features.

According to Lalollari the new series of banknotes differs from the current series in 4 different fields. The first one is the security field, the improvement of security elements and the banking industry has made possible the production of new banknotes which are hard to falsify.  Also, the design of the new banknotes has undergone major changes, the industry of the production of the banknotes has added new elements regarding the aesthetic theme, maintenance, and longevity. The new sketches are kept a secret from the Bank of Albania, for security reasons, meanwhile, the new cut of banknotes has started to be produced abroad.

The reason why they will be released this fall is that they are still in the process of production, and with a special event by the Bank of Albania they will be introduced to the public for immediate use. Also, Bank of Albania plans for the next year to put into the circulation the release of the very first banknote of 10.000 Leke, which will have the biggest value in Albanian currency.  The theme will be the national anthem and its author, the poet Asdreni.

Source/ Top Channel.tv

Source: Invest in Albania

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Bank of Albania launches new banknote series

Publication date: 12.09.2019

On 12 September 2019, the Bank of Albania launched a new series of banknotes, in a ceremony organised for this occasion.

More than 20 years after the launching of the current series of lek banknotes, the new series comes with a refreshed design, giving the Albanian banknote a modern look. The new banknotes are more durable, are made with high-quality material, project integrity and reliability, and follow standards similar to those applied in advanced countries. They are produced with cutting-edge technologies for banknote printing, with new security features, making them safer against counterfeiting.

The new series retains the same theme of the existing banknotes, a widely-accepted theme by the public; however, its colours and design are freshened up.

This theme evokes some key moments in the history of the Albanian nation, related to social, economic and political developments, and represented by prominent personalities with important contributions for Albania. The portraits of these personalities are combined in the banknote design with motives related to the life, work, place and era in which they lived.

Meanwhile, the look of the new series reflects the overall evolution and improvement of the design and the specific elements presented in them, striking a balance between innovation and tradition.

The new Albanian banknote series consists of six denominations: 200 lek, 500 lek, 1000 lek, 2000 lek, 5000 lek and 10000 lek. The launching of this series is planned to take place gradually in this order:


- 200 lek and 5000 lek banknotes will be put into circulation starting from 30 September 2019;
- 10000 lek and 1000 lek banknotes will be put into circulation  starting from 2020;
- 2000 lek banknote will be put into circulation starting from 2021;
- 500 lek banknote will be put into circulation starting from 2022.

For the first time, a polymer banknote - 200 lek - will be introduced. Polymer, a plastic material that is more resistant to wearing than paper, represents an innovation in the industry of money production. Overall, lower denomination banknotes change hands more often and wear most from use; hence, the utilisation of a more durable material will be more efficient.

The existing banknotes, of all denominations, will continue to circulate alongside with the new banknotes. They will continue to be legal tender and serve as means of payment.

Source: Bank of Albania (Press Release)

[Bimat]

Plenty of photos in the press release link (given in above post).

Aditya