Albania 1939-R 0.50 lek

Steve Album sale 51, lot 2827

This specimen was lot 2827 in Steve Album Auction 51 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2025), where it sold for $132. The catalog description^[1] noted, "ALBANIA: Vittorio Emanuele III, 1939-1943, 0.50 lek, 1939-R year XVIII, Italian Occupation issue, magnetic variety, brilliant luster, PCGS graded MS66, ex Almer H. Orr III Collection. Misattributed as the non-magnetic variety on the holder." This type was struck 1939-41. The 1939 comes magnetic or non-magnetic, with the non-magnetic being the scarcer. They were demonetized in 1945, after Italy surrendered to the Allies. The ten (KM 34) and five lek (KM 33) are the only silver coins issued by the Fascist administration of Albania during its brief rule (1939-43) over Albania.

Recorded mintage: 100,000.

Specification: 6 g, stainless steel, 24 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM-30.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 51, featuring the Howard Daniel III Collection of Asian Coins, the Almer H. Orr III Collection of World Coins and the Joe Sedillot Collection of German Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2024.

Link to:

• 1937-R 100 franga ari, 25th anniversary of independence
• 1938-R 50 franga ari, 10th anniversary of the king's reign
• 1938-R 100 franga ari, wedding of the king
• 1939-R 0.20 lek
• 1939-R 5 lek
• 1939-R 10 lek
• 1941-R 0.10 lek
• Coins and currency dated 1939