Albania revised 1,000-lek note (B318b) and new 2,000-lek note (B320a) confirmed

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.

B318 (P69 & P73): 1,000 leke (US$9.10)
Green. Front: Albanian text; writer Pjeter Bogdani; blazing sun; outline of Bank of Albania building in OVI; coat of arms. Back: Albanian text; Bogdani’s vision of the heliocentric system; Catholic Church in Vau i Dejës. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Pjeter Bogdani. Printer: Varieties. 151 x 72 mm. Paper. b. 2007. Sig. 6: Fullani/Miho.  1.5-mm wide windowed security thread with demetalized 1000.  Wmk: Pjeter Bogdani and Cornerstones.  Printer: (De La Rue). Prefix IR, JF – JY. Intro: 14.11.2008.

B320 (P74): 2,000 leke (US$18)
Purple. Front: Albanian text; MBRETI GENT (Gentius, last king of Illyria); three ancient coins; outline of Bank of Albania building in OVI; coat of arms. Back: Albanian text; medicinal plant, gentiana lutea (great yellow gentian, or bitter root); AMFITEATRI I BUTRINTIT (ancient Butrint amphitheater near Sarandë). Hologram. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Gentius and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 155 x 72 mm. Paper. a. 2007. Sig. 6: Fullani/Miho.  1.5-mm wide windowed security thread with demetalized 2000. Prefix PU, ZA – ZV. Intro: 29.12.2008. 

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