Lao kip

Lao kip
ເງີນກີບລາວ (Lao)
1000 kip issued in 1996
ISO 4217
Code	LAK
Denominations
Subunit
1/100	att
Symbol	₭ or ₭N
Banknotes
Freq. used	500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000 kip
Rarely used	1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 kip
Coins
Rarely used	10, 20, 50 att
Demographics
User(s)	Lao People's Democratic Republic
Issuance
Central bank	Bank of the Lao P.D.R.
Website	www.bol.gov.la
Valuation
Inflation	3.92%
Source	Bank of the Lao P.D.R, December 2009.

The kip (Lao: ກີບ; code: LAK; sign: ₭ or ₭N; Official Name: ເງີນກີບລາວ, lit. "Currency Lao Kip") is the currency of Laos since 1952. Historically, one kip was divided into 100 att (ອັດ).

In 1945–1946, the Free Lao government in Vientiane issued a series of paper money in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 att and 10 kip before the French authorities took control of the region.

The kip was reintroduced in 1952, replacing the French Indochinese piastre at par. The kip (also called a piastre in French) was sub-divided into 100 att (Lao: ອັດ) or cents (French: Centimes).

Coins were issued in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 att or cents with French and Lao inscriptions. All were struck in aluminium and had a hole in the centre, like the Chinese cash coins. The only year of issue was 1952.

In 1953, the Laos branch of the Institut d'Emission des Etats du Cambodge, du Laos et du Vietnam issued notes dual denominated in piastre and kip. At the same time, the two other branches had similar arrangement with the riel in Cambodia and the đồng in South Vietnam. There were notes for 1, 5, 100 and 100 kip/piastres.

In 1957, the government issued notes denominated solely in kip. The notes were for 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 kip printed by the Security Banknote Company, 100 kip printed by the Banque de France and a commemorative 500 kip printed by Thomas De la Rue. 1 and 5 kip notes printed by Bradbury & Wilkinson, and a 10 kip by De la Rue were introduced by 1962.