![Albania, Ahmed Zogu, 5 Franga Ari, 1926 R [WC-478] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WC-478-1.jpg)
Description
Albanian Republic, Ahmed Zogu, as President of Albania 1925-1928 AD, Silver Five Franga Ari (24.99g, 37mm), 1926 R, Rome mint, Italy. Obverse: Cattle ploughing a field left, farmer walking behind, engravers names “A· MOTTI· INC·” (Attilio Silvio Motti) and “G· ROMANOLI” (Giuseppe Romagnoli), mintmark, date and denomination below, country “SHQIPNI ALBANIA” above. Reverse: Bare head of President Ahmed Zogu facing to the right, legend surrounds, “AMET ZOGU”. KM-8.1. A scarce issue, of bright appearance and the obverse lightly cleaned in the past, else virtually Mint State.
Ahmed Muhtar Zogolli served as the Leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939, specifically, he first served as Albania’s youngest ever Prime Minister (1922–1924), then as president (1925–1928), and finally as King (1928–1939). In 1922, he adopted the name Ahmed Zogu, and once the Albanian Republic was transformed into a kingdom, Zogu declared himself to be Zog I, with the title King of the Albanians, even though he was never officially crowned. Albania fell further under Italian influence during Zog’s reign, and by the end of the 1930s the country had become almost fully dependent on Italy despite Zog’s resistance. In April 1939, Italy invaded Albania and the country was rapidly overrun. The Albanian royal family was forced into exile after Albanian was declared an Italian protectorate.
