Albania was known as Illyria and was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, who ruled the region until its independence after the First Balkan War in 1912. Albania was an Italian protectorate and Old Lek circulated until 1939 when Italians annexed the country. In the WW2 period, they had currency with a portrait of Victor Emmanuel III (King of Italy). After the fall of Mussolini in 1943, partisan forces with Soviet support liberated the country. Soviets minted Albanian currency with Communism stars because they were a part of the Eastern Bloc until 1960 when it's dictator Enver Hoxha left the Bloc. The country remained Communist until 1998. The design of the coins changed in 1995 and has almost not changed until 2018. Latest symbols on the coins: Dalmatian Pelican, Berat Castle, Liburna, and a portrait of Queen Teuta.
