Post-communist coinage of Albania

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Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, capital city of Albania.

From Wikipedia:

The Republic of Albania is a country in south-east Europe on the Adriatic and Ionian Sea. It has a population of 2,846,000. Historically, the country has been inhabited by numerous civilisations such as the Illyrians, Thracians, Ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans. The Albanians established the autonomous Principality of Arbër in the 12th century. The Kingdom of Albania and Principality of Albania formed between the 13th and 14th centuries. After the defeat of the Ottomans in the Balkan Wars, the modern nation state of Albania declared independence in 1912.

In 1939 the Kingdom of Albania was invaded by Italy, which formed Greater Albania, before later becoming a protectorate of Nazi Germany. Enver Hoxha formed Communist Albania after the Second World War and launched the Albanians on a path of oppression and decades of isolation. The Revolutions of 1991 concluded the fall of communism in Albania and eventually the establishment of the current Republic of Albania.

Politically, the country is a unitary parliamentary constitutional republic and developing country with an upper-middle income economy dominated by the service sector, followed by manufacturing.

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Map of Albania.

Albania's location in Europe.

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The Albanian national emblem.

From Wikipedia:

The Albanian national emblem is based on the flag and seal of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg. The crest above the head of the two-headed eagle is the helmet of Skanderbeg, Albania's foremost historical hero, and surmounted with goat's horns.

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Flag of Albania.

From Wikipedia:

The Flag of Albania is a red flag with a silhouetted black double-headed eagle in the centre. The red stands for bravery, strength and valour, while the double-headed eagle represents the sovereign state of Albania. The flag was established as the national flag of Albania when the country gained its independence from the Ottoman empire in 1912.

See also:  Double-headed eagles on coins.

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From Wikipedia:

The lek (Albanian: Leku shqiptar; plural lekë) is the official currency of Albania. The lek was named after Alexander the Great, whose name is often shortened to Leka in Albanian. The lek was originally subdivided into 100 qindarka (singular qindarkë), but qindarka are no longer issued. The name qindarkë comes from the Albanian qind, meaning one hundred. The word is thus similar in formation to centime, cent, etc.

In 1995 and 1996, new coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 lekë.

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The bronze 1 lek coin was first issued in 1996.

The obverse features a Dalmatian pelican.

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The reverse design of the 1 lek coin.

It features a wreath of oleander flowers (left) and oak leaves (right).

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The obverse of the 5 leke coin features the double-headed eagle.

This symbol appears on the Albanian flag.


The 5 leke coin is made of nickel-plated steel.

It was first issued in 1995, a year ahead of the other coins in the series.

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The reverse of the 5 leke coin features an olive branch.


This Albanian coin series features different designs on each obverse and reverse.

In that respect it is somewhat unusual.

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The obverse design of the aluminium-bronze 10 leke coin features the Castle of Berat.

Nowadays, the castle lies largely in ruins.

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The reverse design of the 10 leke coin features another wreath.

Such wreaths look rather old-fashioned these days.

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The obverse design of the aluminium-bronze 20 leke coin features a liburnian ship.


A liburnian was a small galley used for raiding and patrols.

It was originally used by the Liburnians, a pirate tribe from Dalmatia,


Near the ship, a dolphin leaps out of the sea.

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The reverse design of the 20 leke coin features a wreath of oak leaves and laurel leaves.

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The obverse design of the copper-nickel 50 leke coin features King Gentius of Illyria on horseback.

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The reverse design of the 50 leke coin features a wreath of oak leaves with acorns.