Albania banknote - 20 njizet franga - year 1939 - Italian Occupation of Albania

Description

The Kingdom of Albania (Gheg Albanian: Mbretnija Shqiptare, Standard Albanian: Mbretëria Shqiptare) was the official name of Albania between 1928 and 1939. Albania was declared a monarchy by the Constituent Assembly, and President Ahmet Bej Zogu was declared King Zog I. The kingdom was supported by the fascist regime in Italy, and the two countries maintained close relations until Italy's sudden invasion of the country in 1939. Zog fled into exile and never saw his country again. The Communist Party of Labor of Albania gained control of the country toward the end of World War II, established a communist government, and formally deposed Zog.
The Franga is an obsolete unit of currency, equal to 5 lek, used in the Albanian Republic and Albanian Kingdom under Zogu. Coins denominated in Franga were in use from 1926 until 1939.
Albania's first gold coins were issued in 1926, under President Ahmed Zogu, who in 1928 went on to proclaim himself King Zog I in 1928. These are denominated in franga ari (singular = frang ar). We guess the word frang is related linguistically to franc, and it is possible that the word ar relates to argent, argentum, or Ar, meaning silver.
After the occupation by Italy in 1939, they were nominated in Lek (plural leki). There are 5 lek = 1 frang.
According to Krause, 100 quindar leku = 1 lek, and 100 quindar ara = 1 frang ari. It would appear that the word quindar means hundredth or cent, to which it appear also be phonetically related. The plural of quindar is quindarka.
The above information is in accordance with, and limited by, our extremely vague knowledge of the Albanian language.
Green on olive-green underprint. Seated Roma at bottom center, wolf with Romulus and Remus at right. Back: Redbrown and multicolor. Double headed eagle at center. Watermark: Victor Emanuel III; Skanderbeg. Printer: ODBI.