Circulation Coins

The Republic of Lithuania circulation coins are litas and centas coins. Currently 9 types of litas circulation coins (1, 2 and 5 litas customary circulation coins and 6 types of commemorative circulation 1 litas coins) and 9 types of centas coins (1, 2 and 5 centas coins and 2 types of 10, 20 and 50 centas coins) are in circulation. Besides customary circulation coins, the Bank of Lithuania has also issued collectors’ (commemorative) 1 litas circulation coins. Six coins of this type have already been issued. They are coins dedicated to the 75^th anniversary of the Bank of Lithuania and the litas, the 10^th anniversary of the Baltic Way, the 425^th anniversary of Vilnius University, Rulers Palace of the Great Duchy of Lithuania, Vilnius – European Capital of Culture 2009, 600^th anniversary of the Battle of Grünwald. Also, the Bank of Lithuania issues numismatic sets of circulation litas coins and centas containing a higher as usual quality of the circulation coin surface. All circulation coins are legal tender in the Republic of Lithuania.

Litas and centas circulation coins are struck by Vilnius-located mint UAB Lietuvos Monetų Kalykla (Lithuanian Mint). The right of the owner and operator of the Mint is implemented by the Bank of Lithuania. Also, this Mint strikes collectors’ (commemorative) coins issued by the Bank of Lithuania. All coins are struck by following global coin minting standards and using up-to-date technologies.

As at 31 December, the number of circulation coins in circulation totalled to almost 975 million, with the value of LTL 198 million, total weight of 1,947 tons. 1 and 2 centas coins accounted for the largest share of the total number of circulation coins in circulation (39 % and 21 % respectively). In 2010, the demand for these coins made up nearly 66 % of the total demand for coins. The hugest amount issued was that of 1 centas coin: 21.5 million pieces (16 million pieces in 2009). The average number of litas and centas circulation coins per capita in Lithuania increased by 5 %, i.e. to 287 coins of which 112 coins were 1 centas coins.

As at December 31, 1, 2 and 5 litas coins accounted for nearly three fourths (74%) of the total value of coins in circulation. Over the year, the share of 5 litas coins increased by 0.1 percentage point, the share of 2 litas and 1 litas coins in circulation left unchanged.