Franga

Franga
100 Franga Coin with portrait of Zogu.
Central bank	Bank of Albania
User(s)	Albanian Republic Albanian Kingdom
Subunit
1/100	Qindark ari
Nickname	Leku Zogut
Coins
Freq. used	10, 20, 50 and 100 Franga
Banknotes
Freq. used	5, 20, and 100 Franga

The Franga is an obsolete unit of currency, used in the Albanian Republic and Albanian Kingdom under Zogu. The coins were used from 1926 until 1939, when the currency was replaced by the Lek.

Coins

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 qindark leku = 1 lek, and 100 qindark ara = 1 frang ari. It would appear that the word qindark 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. The following coins were in circulation:

Denomination	Diameter (mm)	Weight (gram)	Alloy	AGW
10 Franga	18,5	3,2258	0,9000	0,0933
20 Franga	20	6,4516	0,9000	0,1867
50 Franga	27	16.1290	0,9000	0,4667
100 Franga	34,5	32,2580	0,9000	0,9335

• Note: Alloy = Fineness of gold, AGW = Actual fine gold weight in troy ounces

Gallery

• 

  10 Franga with portrait of Zogu.

• 

  20 Franga

• 

  20 Franga, Skanderbeg in front

• 

  100 Franga with portrait of Zogu.

External links

• www.taxfreegold.co.uk about Franga
• Franga Banknote