A quiet socialist tableau in green and blue, where labour, land, and fortress become the grammar of the Albanian lek.
Design & Symbolism
Obverse
The composition centers on a peasant couple: a mechanic with an outstretched arm and a woman holding a sheaf of wheat. Their posture is declarative yet composed, embodying the ideological language of productive unity between industry and agriculture.
The inscription Banka e Shtetit Shqiptar frames the scene with institutional authority, while the denomination Një lek rests prominently across the foreground. The palette of green and deep blue reinforces stability and agrarian identity. Decorative borders echo traditional Albanian ornamentation, grounding socialist realism within national visual heritage.
Reverse
The reverse shifts from human figures to landscape memory. Rozafa Castle rises above Shkodër, depicted in calm elevation, its fortified silhouette symbolizing endurance and historical continuity.
At the upper right, the national coat of arms asserts state sovereignty. The flowing cursive of Një lek contrasts with the rigid geometry of the fortress, merging cultural refinement with institutional strength. The warning against counterfeiting forms part of the legal architecture embedded into the design itself.
Collector’s Insight
For collectors, this 1976 issue reflects the visual language of Albania’s socialist period, where agriculture, labour, and fortified heritage appear within a clear and disciplined design framework. The modest denomination adds documentary value: everyday currency carrying the imagery of collective work and national endurance.
Within a Cold War context, P-40 stands as a structured example of Balkan socialist banknote engraving — direct, composed, and unmistakably of its era.
Shipping & Guarantee
Each banknote is carefully handled and securely packed to ensure safe delivery. Authenticity is guaranteed.
Serial number and prefix may vary from the reference image.
