The document describes the current banknotes in circulation in Albania. It discusses each denomination - 200 Lekë, 500 Lekë, 1000 Lekë, 2000 Lekë, and 5000 Lekë - and provides details on the size, color, historical figure featured on the front, security features, and issuance history. For each note, it mentions the person portrayed, security elements, improvements made in later issues, and that older issues will remain legal tender alongside newer versions. The banknotes are printed by international security printers and use modern techniques to prevent counterfeiting.

1. 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

2. 200 Lekë Note !
• Size: 138 mm x 69 mm
Dominant colour: brown in yellow
First 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.

3. 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.

5. 500 Lekë Note !
• Size: 145 mm x 68 mm
Dominant colour: blue
First 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.

6. 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.

8. 1000 Lekë Note !
• Size: 151 mm x 72 mm
Dominant colour: green
First 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.

9. 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.

11. 2000 Lekë Note
• Size: 160 mm x 72 mm
Dominnat colour: purple
First 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.

12. 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.

14. 5000 Lekë Note
• Size: 160 mm x 72 mm
Colour: brown in yellow
Date 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.

15. 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.

17. The END !