Lao Kip
The Lao kip is a high-denomination Southeast Asian currency established in 1952, defined by its transition from monarchical to socialist identity.
Quick Facts
Country: Laos
Code: LAK
Symbol: ₭
System: Decimal (1 Kip = 100 Att)
Status: In circulation
Issuer: Bank of the Lao P.D.R.
The Story of the Lao Kip
Replacing the French Indochinese piastre, the kip underwent a major rupture in 1975 when the Pathet Lao replaced the Royal Kip with "Liberation Kip" issues. This ideological shift saw the removal of monarchical portraits in favour of socialist imagery and industrial themes. Modern banknotes operate in a high-denomination environment, reflecting decades of economic transition and regional alignment.
Design & Symbolism
Iconography centres on Kaysone Phomvihane and the Pha That Luang stupa. A key motif is the "Three Girls" composition, representing the nation's major ethnic groups. Modern high-value notes (50,000 and 100,000 kip) feature sharp intaglio engraving and improved security threads, though the overall design maintains a restrained, symmetrical Southeast Asian aesthetic.
For collectors
For collectors, the Lao kip is affected by "tropical scarcity." High humidity in the Mekong region causes rapid paper degradation, making crisp UNC examples of the 1970s and 1980s series difficult to find. Early fractional att notes and 1950s Royal issues are the primary targets for advanced collectors, while modern high-denomination notes offer an accessible entry into contemporary socialist numismatics.
The Lao kip remains in circulation as the official currency of Laos, defined by its high-denomination structure.