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5 Lekë League of Lezhë
| Issuer | Albania |
|---|---|
| Year | 1969-1970 |
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| Technique | Milled |
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| Obverse description | The Albanian state coat of arms occupies the upper central field, depicting the double-headed eagle within a wreath of wheat ears surmounted by a five-pointed star, with a ribbon at the base inscribed '24 MAJ 1944'. Twelve five-pointed stars are arranged around the inner border. The denomination numeral '5' appears in the lower central field, with the legend 'LEKË' below it along the bottom arc, accompanied by a fineness mark in the field to the right. A beaded border frames the entire design. |
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| Reverse description | Central field features a heraldic shield bearing the Albanian double-headed eagle, set against a radiating sunburst pattern of alternating swords and lances arranged symmetrically behind the shield. A visored helmet surmounts the shield. The curved legend 'SHQIPËRI·ALBANIA' arcs across the upper field, while the lower arc carries the bilingual inscription 'LIDHJA E LEZHËS - LIGA LISSI' with the commemorative dates '1444 - 1968' at the base. A beaded border frames the design. |
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| Additional information |
Issued to mark the 525th anniversary of the League of Lezhë, the 1444 alliance convened by Gjergj Kastrioti — Skanderbeg — that briefly united the Albanian lords against Ottoman expansion. The communist government under Enver Hoxha had complicated reasons for celebrating a medieval Catholic nobleman, but Albanian national identity required Skanderbeg, and the regime appropriated him accordingly.
The .999 fine silver specification is notably purer than the .900 standard common to most European commemorative issues of the period, suggesting these were produced primarily for export currency markets rather than domestic circulation.