Of all the mints in Eastern Europe, perhaps none punches above its weight as much as Lietuvos Bankas, the Bank of Lithuania. For an organisation that issues under ten commemoratives a year, they garner plenty of award nominations for their output. In 2014 they were nominated three times for the Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY), and for 2015 they picked up four nominations. Only fellow Baltic State, Latvia, is as successful.

All coins issued by the Bank of Lithuania are struck by UAB Lietuvos Monetų Kalykla (Lithuanian Mint), a Vilnius-based mint of obviously high quality that was restored to being in 1990 and started striking commemorative coins in 1993. From tomorrow, Lithuania will transition to the use of the Euro, so 2014 is the final year that coins will be released bearing the Litas denomination.

We recently covered their latest numismatic gem, ‘Form’, incorporating some very cleverly struck optical effects that’s obviously struck a chord with collectors given auction prices have doubled in the short time it’s been available. Now, in the first of what we plan to be ten posts bringing us up to date with issues from Eastern European countries, we’ll  have a look at some of the other gems released by Lithuania this year. As usual, it’s precious metal coins only.

500th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF ORSHA

On 8 September 1514, the armies of two great duchies, Lithuania and Moscow, faced each other at the battle of Orsha. This was undoubtedly the most significant event in the wars between Lithuania and Moscow at the turn of the 15th/16th century.

There is no doubt that the Muscovite army was much larger and this in part was the reason for the subsequent glory of this victory. Konstanty Ostrogski after this battle was lauded as a great military leader, because it was his decisions (as well those of Jerzy Radziwiłł) that led to success in the battlefield. Historians agree that the victory was achieved in large part due to the tactics of the Lithuanians, with one deceptive manoeuvre they were able to break up the enemy formation.

REVERSE: features a portrait of Konstantinas Ostrogiškis against a background of fragments of the Battle; there is the inscription DIDYSIS LDK ETMONAS KONSTANTINAS OSTROGIŠKIS (THE GRAND HETMAN OF THE GDL KONSTANTINAS OSTROGIŠKIS) at the bottom and the inscriptions ORŠOS MŪŠIS (THE BATTLE OF ORSHA) and the anniversary year of the Battle – 500 at the top.

OBVERSE:  features a stylized coat of arms of the Republic of Lithuania, Vytis on a shield in the centre, which is surrounded by the inscriptions LIETUVA 2014, 50 LITŲ (LITHUANIA 2014, 50 LITAS). There is also the mintmark of the Lithuanian Mint on the obverse of the coin.

DESIGNER: Rolandas Rimkūnas and Giedrius Paulauskis

COMMENT: A fine design, one of the more traditional from the mint, looking very much of the period artistically. They’ve packed a lot of detail in while maintaining a coherent and attractive overall image.

25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BALTIC WAY

The Baltic Way was a human chain of linked hands stretching from Vilnius to Tallinn, made up of the people of three small nations, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. This peaceful mass demonstration was their silent reminder of themselves to the world, that they were prisoners, forgotten by all and imprisoned for 50 years. The Baltic Way was a triumph of democratic self-determination.

A  quarter  of  a  century has  passed  since  the  Baltic Way. This  action  will  remain  in the history of mankind as one of the most impressive testimonies of how peace can overcome the most powerful machine of violence. Given the historical importance and uniqueness of the event, the Baltic Way is included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.

REVERSE: a composition of geographical images of the three Baltic States, with an artistic depiction of a road connecting them; the inscription BALTIJOS KELIAS 25 (BALTIC WAY 25) is on the left. The mark of the designer is impressed on the reverse.

OBVERSE: features the Vytis, stylised coat of arms of the State of Lithuania in the centre; the inscription LIETUVA (LITHUANIA) is placed at the top; the denomination 50 LITŲ (50 litas) and the year of issue 2014 are placed at the bottom. The mintmark of the Mint is impressed on the obverse of the coins.

EDGE: Carries the inscription EESTI LATVIJA LIETUVA (ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA)

DESIGNER: Eglė Ratkutė and Giedrius Paulauskis

COMMENT: Beautiful design, highly stylistic, yet strongly representing its theme, we consider this one bang on.

LITHUANIAN HISTORY

Baltic studies are a complex science involving comparative research of the spiritual and material culture of the Baltic nations. Depending on which nation’s culture is studied, Baltic studies are divided into Lithuanian studies, Latvian studies, Old Prussian studies, etc. By researched problem area, the works of specialists in Baltic studies can fall under linguistics, literature, folklore, mythology, history, archaeology, anthropology and so on.

REVERSE: an amber disc is artistically memorialized; it is an archaeological find from the Neolithic period attributed to Baltic ethnology. On the left side of the coin, an inscription BALTISTIKA (BALTISTICA) is arranged in a semi-circle.

OBVERSE: features a stylized coat of arms of the Republic of Lithuania, which is surrounded by the inscriptions LIETUVA, 2014, 10 LITŲ (LITHUANIA, 2014, 10 LITAS).

DESIGNER: Vaidotas Skolevičius

COMMENT: Another well realised design. The traditional horse and rider obverse has been done in a cave-painting style; a nice touch.

25th ANNIVERSARY OF RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF VYTAUTUS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY

THIS YEAR, Vytautas Magnus University (Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its re-establishment. The “Higher Courses of Study”, which were established on 27 December 1919 and started functioning on 27 January 1920, became the basis of higher education in Kaunas. The University of Lithuania was opened on 16 February 1922, after reorganisation of these courses. In 1930, by the ruling of the Republic of Lithuania’s Government, the university was given the name Vytautas Magnus. Having survived through the occupations and war, the university was closed in 1950.

VMU WAS REBORNtogether with the Reform Movement of Lithuania (Sąjūdis) and the hope for an independent Lithuanian state. The Act of Vytautas Magnus University’s Re-establishment was proclaimed on 28 April 1989, at a conference of Lithuanian and diaspora scientists, “National University Conception and Kaunas University.” The study model of Harvard University, which is oriented towards the humanities and social studies, was chosen as the basis for the conception of autonomous higher education.

REVERSE: the idea of studies ARTES LIBERALES (liberal arts), reaching back to antiquity, is inscribed against the background of a composition of fragments of an open book and an outspread globe. The inscription VYTAUTO DIDŽIOJO UNIVERSITETO ATKŪRIMAS 25 (RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY 25) is arranged in a circle.

OBVERSE: features a stylized coat of arms of the Republic of Lithuania, which is surrounded by the inscriptions ****LIETUVA 2014***, 50 LITŲ (****LITHUANIA 2014***, 50 LITAS). The mintmark of the Lithuanian Mint is impressed on the obverse of the coin.

DESIGNER: Rolandas Rimkūnas and Giedrius Paulauskis

COMMENT: Usual quality obverse but one of the weaker reverse designs this year.

LITHUANIAN CULTURE: CINEMA

Cinema is the only one of the artsthat does not have a patron muse, yet the exact date of its birth is well known, 28th of December, 1895. On that evening, two brothers, Louis and Auguste Lumière, in the basement of the Grand Caféon Boulevard des Capucines in Paris, presented a public viewing of moving pictures. They called their first camera and projector a “cinematograph”. This invention, which astounded its audience, was destined to become not only the most popular form of entertainment of the 20th c. but also a fine art, which perfected the distinctive, evocative language of images. Although a quick end was predicted more than once for the so-called Tenth Muse, especially with the invention of television, films even now continue to rule over the public’s feelings and minds, while the art of cinema is seen as an integral part of every nation’s culture.

The Lumière brothers’ “cinematograph” reached Lithuania relatively quickly, the first showing in the Vilnius botanical gardens (now the Bernardine Gardens) terrace theatre took place on July 3rd 1897. After a decade, Kaunas became the birthplace of puppet animation, Władysław Starewicz, who later was a famous director in Russia and France, in 1910 created here the first spatial animation film Battle of the Lucanus Cervus. However, in the context of national culture, due to unfavourable historical and economic circumstances, cinema only became more popular half a century later.

REVERSE: a stylized composition of the cinema creation symbols — film cameras and film reels — is artistically depicted.

OBVERSE: features a stylized coat of arms of the Republic of Lithuania, which is surrounded by the inscriptions LIETUVA 2014, 10 LITŲ. The mintmark of the Lithuanian Mint is impressed on the obverse of the coin.

EDGE: LIETUVOS KULTŪRA*KINAS* (LITHUANIAN CULTURE*CINEMA*) is inscribed twice.

DESIGNER: Rūta Ničajienė

COMMENT: Superb. Done in that high-style design that the mint does so well.

300th ANNIVERSARY OF BIRTH OF KRISTIJONAS DONELAITIS

The Lithuanian poet Donelaitais, born on 1 January 1714 in Lasdinehlen (a long-gone village not far from Gumbinnen in Lithuania Minor), is of great importance and value. In 1736–1740 he studied theology at the University of Königsberg, from 1740–1743 he worked as cantor, organist and school director in Stallupönen, and from 1743 until his death he was a pastor in Tollmingkehmen. There he died on 18 February 1780. Of his works, only the hexametric poem The Seasons (Metai) and six fables remain.

Although the poet’s father was a free peasant who was not burdened by the obligations of serfdom, Donelaitis throughout his childhood and life as a pastor was well acquainted with the life of hunger and hard work that was common for his neighbours, the serfs, known as boors (būrai)in the region.

REVERSE: works and activities of Lithuanian peasants, depicted with reference to motifs of the poem “Metai” by Kristijonas Donelaitis, as well as the Sun, which represents the Earth’s natural cycle change, revolve in the eternal circle of life. There is an inscription KRISTIJONAS DONELAITIS, 300.

OBVERSE: features a stylized coat of arms of the Republic of Lithuania, which is surrounded by the inscriptions LIETUVA 2014, 50 LITŲ and images of the life of Lithuanian peasants. The mintmark of the Lithuanian Mint is impressed on the obverse of the coin.

EDGE: JAU SAULELĖ VĖL ATKOPDAMA BUDINO SVIETĄ (THE CLIMBING SUN AGAIN WAS WAKENING THE WORLD) is inscribed.

DESIGNER: Tadas Žebrauskas and Giedrius Paulauskis

COMMENT: Another very clever and stylish design. Definitely a mint speciality