PRESS RELEASE
The BoA Supervisory Council approved the minting of a commemorative coin for numismatic purposes, with legal tender and a monetary denomination of 50 lek, issue of 2003

Pursuant to the Law No. 8269, dated 23.12.1997 "On the Bank of Albania", the Bank of Albania Supervisory Council, with its decision No. 30, dated 24.04.2002, approved the minting of a commemorative coin for numismatic purposes, with legal tender and a monetary denomination of 50 lek, issue of 2003.

This coin minted on the subject "Albanian Antiquity" has the following features:
- The coin's obverse bears the monetary denomination of 50 lek at its center, and the inscription "ANTIKITETI SHQIPTAR" ("Albanian Antiquity) surrounding the upper part of the coin.
- The coin's reverse has the image of an Illyrian helmet at its center, and the inscriptions "Republika e Shqipërisë 2003" ("Republic of Albania 2003") surrounding the upper part of the coin and "ANTIKITETI SHQIPTAR" ("Albanian Antiquity) surrounding the lower part of the coin.

This coin has the same features of metal, weight, diameter, shape and color with the coin of 50 lek denomination, being currently in circulation and having legal tender.

In conformity with the above decision, the Albanian public is announced that on 1st August, 2004 the Bank of Albania will launch in circulation the coin of 50 lek denomination, issue of 2003, with legal tender and subject "Albanian Antiquity", which will be accepted for all payments of public and private financial obligations, without limitations, at its monetary value.

We clarify the public that the 50 lek coins, issues of 1996 and 2000, which are currently in circulation, will continue having legal tender and will be accepted for all payments of public and private financial obligations, without limitations, at their monetary value.

Meanwhile, we inform the public that the 50 lek coin, with legal tender and subject "Albanian Antiquity" is minted as a commemorative coin for numismatic purposes, and therefore there is a very small quantity of only 200.000 coins minted.

The issue of this coin allows all individuals to have at their disposal such a coin, dedicated to the Albanian history and culture.

For further details, please refer to the Bank of Albania's publications and website www.bankofalbania.org , as well as to any commercial bank or exchange bureau.

Leaflets on the 50 lek coin, with legal tender, issue of 2003, subject "Albanian Antiquity" are available at the Bank of Albania's premises.