Country
/ Region: Albania
Continent:
Europe
Denomination:
20 Franga
Year:
1939
Grade:
Uncirculated
Face
Value (as at 2014.03.15): cannot be determined
Pick:
7
Dimension:
189 mm x 106 mm
Figure
(Obverse): Athena and the Capitoline Wolf
Figure
(Reverse): Flag of Albania (black double-headed eagle)
Helen’s
Score: 7.8/10
Story:
Being 1939, I think this is the oldest banknote in my current collection.
Surprisingly it’s in a very well-kept and uncirculated condition. I didn’t plan
to purchase this, as my goal on Albanian banknote is the 1996 set from P62 to P66.
I was sold due to a rather uncommon security feature: double watermarks. This
is the second note I bought from Stephen.
Interesting Fact: I never knew there was a currency
unit called Franga until I learnt of this banknote. Relatively little was known
of this obsolete currency, other than that each unit was equivalent to 5 lek (see
here), the current monetary
unit in Albania. It had a nickname called Leku Zogut, and was used in the
Albanian Republic and Albanian Kingdom under Zogu. There’s a 100 Franga with a nice
design, but so far in 12 months I’ve been unable to locate one with at least Almost
UNC condition.