Albania issues new 2,000-lek note and revised 1,000-lek note

On 29 December 2008, the Bank of Albania issued its first-ever 2,000-lek note. Also, on 14 November 2008, the bank issued a revised 1,000-lek note. Both are dated 2007 and apparently printed by TDLR based upon their use of Cornerstone watermarks.



1,000 lek (US$11.25)
Green. Front: Writer and priest Pjeter Bogdani; sun. Back: Catholic church in Vau i Dejës; Bogdani’s vision of the heliocentric system. Windowed security thread with demetalized 1000. Watermark: Pjeter Bogdani and Cornerstones. Printer: TDLR (w/o imprint). 151 x 72 mm. 2007. Signatures unknown. Introduced 14.11.2008.



2,000 lek (US$22.50)
Purple. Front: MBRETI GENT (Gentius, last king of Illyria); three ancient coins; coat of arms. Back: Medicinal plant, gentiana lutea (great yellow gentian, or bitter root); AMFITEATRI I BUTRINTIT (ancient Butrint amphitheater near Sarandë). Hologram. Windowed security thread with demetalized 2000. Watermark: Gentius and Cornerstones. Printer: TDLR (w/o imprint). 160 x 72 mm. 2007. Signatures unknown. Introduced 29.12.2008.

Courtesy of Michael M. Reissner, Cleophas Elmakias Schockemohle, and banknoteshop@gmx.net.