Albania 1992 10 leke
This specimen was lot 3021 in Aureo y Calicó sale 422 (Barcelona, December 2023), where it sold for 27 € (about US$35 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "Albania. 1992. 10 leke. Juegos Olímpicos - Barcelona '92. Boxeo. En estuche. AG. Proof." The history of Albania has been stormy since the death of communist strongman Enver Hoxha in 1985. The first anticommunist protests occurred in January 1990 and the communists permitted free elections in March 1991, which they won. Further protests caused the fall of that government in April 1992 and the installation of Sali Berisha's Democratic Party of Albania. Reforms did not bring about prosperity and many Albanians invested in Ponzi schemes. The collapse of these led to more protests and the fall of Berisha's regime, to be replaced by the socialists. This coin was probably authorized by the communists and hurriedly altered to suit the new regime (previous NCLT's bore the title "REPUBLIKA POPULARE SOCIALISTE E SHQIPERISE"). Note the star floating over the eagle; this has since been removed from the national arms.
Recorded mintage: 20,000.
Specification: 28.46 g, 0.925 fine silver, this specimen 28,37 g.
Catalog reference: KM 70.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Sisó, Teresa, Eduard Domingo and Lluís Lalana, Subasta 422: Subasta Numismatica, Barcelona: Aureo y Calicó, 2023.
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