Albania 5 Franga Ari, 1926 – 1927

5 Franga Ari = 25 Lek from Albania. Issued from 1926 to 1927. Struck in Silver (.900). Measures 37 mm and weighs 25 g.

Obverse

Cattle walking left towing plough while a man walks behind them. Value and mintmark below. (Albania)

Reverse

Head of King Zog I facing right (FERT was the motto of the house of Savoy, adopted by King Vittorio Amedeo II (1666-1732). It is thought to be an acronym, though what it stands for have been lost to time. Theories include:

1. Foedere Et Religione Tenemur (Latin, ‘treaty and religion bind us’)

2. Fortitudo Eius Rempublicam Tenet (Latin, ‘his bravery [or strength] preserves [or defends] the state’)

3. Fides Est Regni Tutela (Latin, ‘faith is the protector of [our] kingdom’)

Another theory suggests that it is in fact the Latin word fert, the third-person singular present active indicative of ferre (Meaning he/she/it suffers/bears), in reference to Jesus bearing the sins of the world.)

Edge

Inscribed.