Albanian lek  The lek (; plural "lekë") (sign: L; code: ALL) is the official currency of Albania. It was formerly subdivided into 100 "qindarka" (singular "qindarkë"), but qindarka are no longer issued. The lek was introduced as the first Albanian currency in February 1926. Before then, Albania was a country without a currency, adhering to a gold standard for the fixation of commercial values. Before the First World War the Ottoman Turkish piastre was in full circulation, but following the military occupation of the country by various continental powers the gold franc (Franc Germinal) was adopted as the monetary unit. In 1923 Italian paper circulated at Shkodër, Durrës, Vlorë, and Gjirokastër, and the Greek drachma at Korçë, the values of which varied according to locality and the prevailing rates of exchange as compared with gold. The lek was named after Alexander the Great, whose name is often shortened to "Leka" in Albanian. Alexander's portrait appeared on the obverse of the 1 lek coin, while the reverse showed him on his horse. The name "qindarkë" comes from the Albanian "qind", meaning one hundred. The word is thus similar in formation to "centime", cent, etc. Between 1926 and 1939 the name "Franga" was used for Albanian gold currency worth five Albanian Lekë for use in international transactions. A similar alternate name "Belga" was used for units of five Belgian francs. In 1926, bronze coins were introduced in denominations of 5 and 10 qindar leku, together with nickel , and 1 lek, and silver 1, 2 and 5 franga ar. The obverse of the franga coins depicts Amet Zogu. In 1935, bronze 1 and 2 qindar ar were issued, equal in value to the 5 and 10 qindar leku respectively. This coin series depicted distinct neoclassical motifs, said to have been influenced by the Italian king Victor Emmanuel III who was known to have been a coin collector. These coins depict the mint marks "R", "V" or "L", indicating Rome, Vienna or London. Under the direction of Benito Mussolini, Italy invaded and occupied Albania and issued a new series of coins in 1939 in denominations 0.20, 0.50, 1 and 2 lek in stainless steel, and silver 5, and 10 lek were introduced, with the silver coins only issued that year.