Coins of the Lithuanian litas
Encyclopedia
The modern coinage of Lithuania
was introduced in 1993. It is composed of coins denominated in centas (plurals centai and centų) and litas
(plurals litai and litų)
and therefore are white. The coins' edge is plain. They were designed by sculptor Petras Garška. These coins are the first permanent coins released after the restoration of independence in 1990. Unlike other coins they bear the same date - 1991 - no matter the year of actual production. The design has not changed even though they bear an old version of the Coat of Arms (the horse's tail looks down instead of up, the knight is leaning forward, and other details).
People usually refer to these coins as "balti centai" (white cents) which has a slightly negative connotation.
of copper
, zinc
, and nickel
. The edges are rimmed. The coins were designed by Antanas Žukauskas with the help of Arvydas Každailis in adapting the Coat of Arms. They were released in 1997 and replaced the 10, 20, and 50 centų coins released in 1991. They bear the year in which they were produced in.
and needed to be constantly re-printed in foreign countries, while the new coins could be minted domestically at the Lithuanian Mint. They bear the year in which they were produced in. People sometimes complain that the coins are too heavy.
" releases 3-6 commemorative coin
s yearly. In addition, there are 4 circulation commemorative coins released, all in 1 litas domination. They all are from a 75% copper and 25% nickel alloy.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
was introduced in 1993. It is composed of coins denominated in centas (plurals centai and centų) and litas
Lithuanian litas
The Lithuanian litas is the currency of Lithuania. It is divided into 100 centų...
(plurals litai and litų)
1, 2, and 5 centai
These coins are made from aluminiumAluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
and therefore are white. The coins' edge is plain. They were designed by sculptor Petras Garška. These coins are the first permanent coins released after the restoration of independence in 1990. Unlike other coins they bear the same date - 1991 - no matter the year of actual production. The design has not changed even though they bear an old version of the Coat of Arms (the horse's tail looks down instead of up, the knight is leaning forward, and other details).
People usually refer to these coins as "balti centai" (white cents) which has a slightly negative connotation.
Specifications
- 1 centas coin: diameterDiameterIn geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose endpoints are on the circle. The diameters are the longest chords of the circle...
- 18.75 mm, thickness - 1.30 mm, weight - 0.83 gGramThe gram is a metric system unit of mass....
. The 1 centas coin has a square ornament with triangle tulipTulipThe tulip is a perennial, bulbous plant with showy flowers in the genus Tulipa, which comprises 109 species and belongs to the family Liliaceae. The genus's native range extends from as far west as Southern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, and Iran to the Northwest of China. The tulip's centre of...
s in each corner. In the center there is a symbol of the columns of GediminasColumns of GediminasThe Columns of Gediminas or Pillars of Gediminids are one of the earliest symbols of Lithuania and one of its historical coats of arms. They were used in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, initially as a rulers' personal insignia, a state symbol, and later as a part of heraldic signs of leading...
. - 2 centai coin: diameter - 21.75 mm, thickness - 1.30 mm, weight - 1.12 g. The 2 centai coin has an ornament shaped as a primitive spindleSpindle (textiles)A spindle is a wooden spike used for spinning wool, flax, hemp, cotton, and other fibres into thread. It is commonly weighted at either the bottom middle or top, most commonly by a circular or spherical object called a whorl, and may also have a hook, groove or notch, though spindles without...
. It is composed of three open triangles and a stylized sun pattern on the top. The sun pattern is composed of 16 elements. - 5 centai coin: diameter - 24.40 mm, thickness - 1.35 mm, weight - 1.4 g. The 5 centai coin has an ornament shaped as a wind vane. The central element is a leaf. On top of the ornament is a cross. Both sides of the leaf have a decorative element, a small snake. Below are two small angels blowing trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s.
10, 20, and 50 centų
These coins are made from a gold-yellow alloyAlloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
of copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
, and nickel
Nickel
Nickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
. The edges are rimmed. The coins were designed by Antanas Žukauskas with the help of Arvydas Každailis in adapting the Coat of Arms. They were released in 1997 and replaced the 10, 20, and 50 centų coins released in 1991. They bear the year in which they were produced in.
Specifications
- 10 centų coin: diameter - 17 mm, thickness - 1.7 mm, weight - 2.6 g. The 10 centų coin has an ornamental triangular firFirFirs are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range...
tree pattern in the background. The triangle points downwards and the apexApex (geometry)In geometry, an apex is the vertex which is in some sense the highest of the figure to which it belongs.*In an isosceles triangle, the apex is the vertex where the two sides of equal length meet, opposite the unequal third side....
is matched to the vertical axis of the coin. - 20 centų coin: diameter - 20.5 mm, thickness - 2.1 mm, weight - 4.8 g. The 20 centų coin has a horizontal ornamental "fir tree" pattern under the number 20.
- 50 centų coin: diameter - 23 mm, thickness - 2.1 mm, weight - 6 g. The 50 centų coin has an ornamental fir tree pattern divided into fourteen equal parts which runs alongside the rimRim (coin)The rim of a coin is the sharp circular edge which surrounds the coin design.This is the part which exceeds the area of the die which strikes the coin during production, and as a result is pushed upward and sharpened to form a sort of border around the coin's design...
.
1, 2, and 5 litai
These coins are made from a white alloy of copper and nickel; and from a gold-yellow alloy of copper, aluminium, and nickel. The coins were designed by Antanas Žukauskas with the help of Arvydas Každailis in adapting the Coat of Arms. They were released in 1998 and replaced the 1, 2, and 5 litai banknotes. The primary reason for the change was that these banknotes are short-lived because they are used in everyday trade. They are subject to wear and tearWear and tear
Wear and tear is damage that naturally and inevitably occurs as a result of normal wear or aging. It is used in a legal context for such areas as warranty contracts from manufacturers, which usually stipulate that damage due to wear and tear will not be covered.Wear and tear is a form of...
and needed to be constantly re-printed in foreign countries, while the new coins could be minted domestically at the Lithuanian Mint. They bear the year in which they were produced in. People sometimes complain that the coins are too heavy.
Specifications
- 1 litas coin: diameter - 22.3 mm, thickness - 2.2 mm, weight - 6.25 g. The 1 litas coin has an edge that is rimmed. The number 1 is in a hollow circle located in the upper part of the coin. Under the circle there is a symmetrical ornament formed by a series of curved bars.
- 2 litai coin: diameter - 25 mm, thickness - 2.2 mm, weight - 7.5 g. The 2 litai coin has an edge that is divided into 5 rimmed sections parted by gaps of plain surface. 3 central bars of each section are thicker than the rest. The outside circle has an ornament formed of 2 groups of curved bars that are positioned symmetrically to the vertical axis of the coin.
- 5 litai coin: diameter - 27.5 mm, thickness - 2.35 mm, weight - 10.1 g. The 5 litai coin edge has an inscription: PENKI LITAI (five litai) repeated twice and separated by a mark. The outside circle bears an ornament formed from three evenly spaced groups of curved bars.
Commemorative circulation coins
"Lithuanian MintLithuanian Mint
Lithuanian Mint is the state-owned enterprise, responsible for the mintage of coins and decorations of Lithuania. The shareholding is managed by the central bank of Lithuania. Lithuanian mintage tradition traces its history back to Algirdas times, when in Vilnius, capital city of Lithuania, was...
" releases 3-6 commemorative coin
Commemorative coins of Lithuania
The Commemorative coins of Lithuania are minted by the Lithuanian mint , headquartered in Vilnius, Lithuania.-Commemorative coins issued 1993-2009:...
s yearly. In addition, there are 4 circulation commemorative coins released, all in 1 litas domination. They all are from a 75% copper and 25% nickel alloy.
Specifications
- 1997 release - for the 75th anniversary of the litas and Bank of Lithuania (200,000 pieces). Coin's diameter is 22.30 mm, thickness - 2.20 mm, weight - 6.25 g. This coin bears the portrait and signature of the first chairman of Bank of Lithuania Vladas JurgutisVladas JurgutisVladas Jurgutis was a Lithuanian priest, economist, and professor. As the first chairman of the Bank of Lithuania he is unofficially considered to be the "father of the Lithuanian litas."-Biography:In 1902 Jurgutis graduated from a high school in Palanga and enrolled in the Kaunas Priest Seminary...
(1885-1966) whose signature is the first litas banknotes released in the interwar period. The same design, size, and denomination coin was also minted in gold (1,500 pieces). It was designed by sculptor Rimantas Eidėjus. - 1999 release for the 10th anniversary of the Baltic wayBaltic WayThe Baltic Way or Baltic Chain was a peaceful political demonstration that occurred on August 23, 1989. Approximately two million people joined their hands to form a human chain spanning over across the three Baltic states – Estonian SSR, Latvian SSR, and Lithuanian SSR, republics of the Soviet...
, when about two million people formed a live 600 kilometer chain protesting against the Soviet occupation (1,000,000 pieces). Coin's diameter is 22.30 mm, thickness - 2.20 mm, weight - 6.25 g. The reverse shows three pairs of hands holding. The clothes are stylized traditional clothes of the three Baltic States. Also, hands are feminine - a symbol of three Baltic sisters (in Lithuanian language all three Baltic states' names are feminine nouns). This coin was criticized for having Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia names on it: it confuses which country's coin it is. The same design was used to mint the 50 litų silver coin of 38.61 mm diameter (4,000 pieces). The only change in design was the edge of the silver coin has an inscription VILNIUS RYGA TALINAS (VilniusVilniusVilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
, RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, TallinnTallinnTallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
- the capitals of three Baltic states in Lithuanian). The designer is Antanas Žukauskas. - 2004 release for the 425th anniversary of Vilnius University in 2004 (200,000 pieces). Coin's diameter is 22.30 mm, thickness - 2.20 mm, weight - 6.25 g. The reverse shows Vilnius University architectural essemble, emphasizing the great courtyard and St. John's church and its belfry. This image is somewhat similar to the reverse of 100 litų banknotes. The same design was used to mint the 50 litų silver coin of 38.61 mm diameter (2,000 pieces). The only 2 changes in design was that the silver coin's edge is incribed with UNIVERSITAS VILNENSIS (when Vilnius University was founded in 1579, it was called Academia et Universitas Vilnensis) and that the silver coin has a field that changes appearance: from one angle it shows 2004 (date of coin release) and 1579 (date of founding Vilnius University) from another. This is the first time such technology was used in Lithuanian coins. The coin was designed by Rytas Jonas Belevičius.
- 2005 release to promote restoration of Lithuania's Royal Palace (Valdovų Rūmai) in 2005 (1,000,000 pieces). Coin's diameter is 22.30 mm, thickness - 2.20 mm, weight - 6.25 g. This coin uses coat of arm image found on Grand Duchy of LithuaniaGrand Duchy of LithuaniaThe Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
coins, and not the modern one. This old coat of arms and the dodecagonDodecagonIn geometry, a dodecagon is any polygon with twelve sides and twelve angles.- Regular dodecagon :It usually refers to a regular dodecagon, having all sides of equal length and all angles equal to 150°...
it has inside its rims creates an impression that the coin is one of the old Great Duchy coins. This illusion was created to emphasize the importance of cultural heritage. The reverse shows how Lithuania's Royal Palace will look like when its reconstruction is complete in 2009 for the 1000th anniversary of Lithuania's name (Lithuania was first mentioned as Litua in 1009 in QuedlinburgQuedlinburgQuedlinburg is a town located north of the Harz mountains, in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. In 1994 the medieval court and the old town was set on the UNESCO world heritage list....
monastery's chronicle). The coin was designed by Giedrius Paulauskis.