Today, 83 years ago, silver coins were put into circulation for the last time in Albania.

On August 22, 1939, the National Bank of Albania (1925-1945) put silver coins into circulation for the last time. They were in denominations of 5 and 10 Lek. On the basis of the Viceroy’s Decree and the new Monetary Regulation Law of 1939, they replaced the 1 silver and two gold franc coins, issues of 1926, 1927, 1935 and 1937. Thereafter, circulation coins were struck only in metal simple.

The face of these coins, as described in the law, bears the bust in profile of King Victor Emmanuel III with the inscriptions “VITT•EM•III RE E IMP•BRET E PER•”. The back bears the double-headed eagle of Skanderbeg and two Lictorian bandages on its sides, as well as the inscriptions: “ALBANIA 1939 XVII 5 LEK/ 10 LEK ALBANIA” and the engraver’s name G. Romagnoli. The edges of the coin have the inscription “KINGDOM OF ALBANIA”