Albania Completes Modern New Series

The Bank of Albania has put into circulation new versions of the 500 lekë and 2,000 lekë, thereby completing its new series which also includes 200, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 lekë. The series began with the issue of the 200 lekë (on polymer) and the 5,000 lekë (on paper, with common with the other notes in the series) in 2019. The other two denominations were issued in June 2021.

The new series was the first redesign of Albania’s currency in 20 years. Both banknotes, in common with their counterparts, have a refreshed, more modern, design and enhanced security, but retain the same images and motifs of the notes they are replacing. The 500 was produced by Oberthur Fiduciaire, and the 2,000 by De La Rue.

The main security feature on the 2,000 lekë is a KINEGRAM® foil stripe displaying multiple optical effects, which is applied in register to the print and partially metallised in multiple patch-like shapes, each with their own distinctive effects. The main motif is a portrait of King Gent of Illyria, a renowned statesman, a warrior and a scientist in medicine (which explains the gentian that appears on the reverse – a medicinal herb whose healing properties were discovered by King Gent and named after him). The flower also appears in three dimensions on the bottom of the stripe, which appears to be tactile but is in fact completely flat to the touch.

Additionally, fine line movements starting on the lower half of the security foil stripe are combined with a clearly visible image flip between the words ‘DY MIJË’ and the denomination number ’2000’. The most striking effect of the foil stripe is a true colour portrait of King Gent, corresponding to the intaglio portrait to underline the integrated, harmonised design.