ALBANIAN CURRENT BANKNOTES!Current banknotes

 There are currently five different

denominations of Bank of Albania notes in circulation.

Security features help you to identify genuine banknotes

Eni Likaj & Gerald Dhima

200 Lekë Note !• Size: 138 mm x 69 mm

Dominant colour: brown in yellowFirst in circulation on: 11.07.1997

• The 200 Lekë note, issued in 1996, was first put in circulation on 11 July 1997. It was printed by "De la Rue" Company and reprinted in 2001 by "Oberthure" Company with improved security features. This note was put in circulation on 8 April 2002.

• The note is manufactured from high quality cotton fibre security paper.• On 20 July 2009, the Bank of Albania put in circulation a 200 Lekë note

of legal tender, issue of 2007, which retains the same design and dimension features as the 200 Lekë note, issue of 2001.

200 Lekë Note !• In the new banknote, security and damage-resistant elements

are added or improved. Furthermore, signatures of the Governor and the Director of Issue Department, as well as the year of issue are updated. Older issues of 200 Lekë notes shall continue to be legal tender and shall continue to be in circulation along with the new note, issue of 2007.

• Obverse: Portrait of Naim Frashëri (1846-1900), one of the most distinguished writers of the Albanian Renaissance; an open book in the background.

• Reverse: View of the house where Naim Frashëri was born; a page with verses from his poem “Herds and crops”; a stylised image of his pen.

500 Lekë Note !• Size: 145 mm x 68 mm

Dominant colour: blueFirst in circulation on: 11.07.1997

•

The 500 Lekë note issue of 1997 was first put in circulation on 11 July 1997. It was printed by "De La Rue" banknote printing company.It was later reprinted by "Oberthure" banknote printing company with improved security features and was put in circulation on 01 August 2002.

• The note is manufactured from high quality cotton fibre security paper.

500 Lekë Note !• Obverse: Portrait of Ismail Qemal Bej Vlora (1844-1919), a prominent leader of the

Albanian national movement and first Prime Minister of independent Albania; double-headed eagle of the independence flag; a stylised image of the pen with which the Independence Act was signed.

• Reverse: View of the building where the Provisional Government of Vlora worked, today the National Museum of Independence; a stylised image of the room where the decision to declare Albania’s independence was made and of the telegraph with the news.

• On 16 February 2009, the Bank of Albania put in circulation a 500 Lekë note of legal tender, issue of 2007. It retains the same design and dimensions as the 500 Lekë note, issue of 2001. Security and damage-resistant elements are added or improved to this banknote. Furthermore, signatures of the Governor and the Director of Issue Department, as well as the year of issue are updated.

• Older issues of 500 Lekë notes shall continue to be legal tender and shall continue to be in circulation along with the new note, issue of 2007.

1000 Lekë Note ! • Size: 151 mm x 72 mm

Dominant colour: greenFirst in circulation on: 11.07.1997

The 1000 Lekë Note, issue of 1996 was printed by "De La Rue" Company and put in circulation on 11 July 1997. It was reprinted by "Oberthure" banknote printing company in 2001 with improved security features and was put in circulation on 8 April 2002.

1000 Lekë Note ! • Obverse: Portrait of Pjetër Bogdani (1625-1689), a writer, clergyman and

distinguished figure of old Albanian literature, taken from the frontispiece of his work "Çeta e profetëve", and a symbol of the sun used in this work.

• Reverse: A scheme of Pjetër Bogdani's idea on the solar eclipse from "Çeta e profetënve in the centre; View of the catholic church of Vau i Dejës on the right.

• On 14 November 2008, the Bank of Albania put in circulation a 1000 Lekë note of legal tender, issue of 2007. It retains the same design and dimension as the 1000 Lekë note, issue of 2001. Security and damage-resistant elements are added or improved. Signatures of the Governor and the Director of Issue Department are updated.

• Older 1000 Lekë notes shall continue to be legal tender and shall continue to be in circulation along with the new note, issue of 2007.

2000 Lekë Note• Size: 160 mm x 72 mm

Dominnat colour: purpleFirst in circulation on: 29.12.2008

The 2000 Lekë note, issue of 2007, was printed by “De la Rue” and first put in circulation on 29 December 2008.

• The note is manufactured from high quality cotton fibre security paper.

2000 Lekë Note• Obverse: Portrait of King Gent of Illyria (181-168

BC). He is known as a statesman, a warrior, and a scientist in medicine. Also, he enriched the treasury and had bronze coins minted with his name.

• Reverse: Elements of antiquity architecture found in Albania; Gentiana lutea - a medicinal herb, whose healing properties were discovered by King Gent; stylized detail of a Liburnian ship.

5000 Lekë Note• Size: 160 mm x 72 mm

Colour: brown in yellowDate first issued: 01.01.1999

The 5000 Lekë note, issued in 1996, was printed by "De La Rue". The note was reprinted by "Oberthure" banknote printing company in 2001 with improved security features and put in circulation (i.e. became legal tender) on 1 September 2004.

5000 Lekë Note• Obverse: Portrait of Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, (1405-1468), a national

hero - the most outstanding representative of the Albanian history, who led the Albanians against the Ottoman invaders. Other elements include the double-headed eagle, and Skanderbeg's shield and sword.

• Reverse: View of Kruja Castle, Skanderbeg's helmet and equestrian statue in Tirana.

• On 15 May 2009, the Bank of Albania put in circulation the 5000 Lekë note of legal tender, issue of 2007. It retains the same design and dimension as the 5000 Lekë note, issue of 2001. Security related and damage-resistant elements are improved or added to this banknote. Signatures of the Governor and Director of Issue Department as well as the year are updated.

• Older 5000 Lekë notes shall continue to be legal tender and shall continue to be in circulation along with the new note, issued in 2007.

The END !