The exhibition “ Currency of the Restored
Lithuania”
The national currency creation and production
history in an independent Lithuania 1999-2000 was revealed
in the exhibition dedicated to the 10th anniversary of
the establishment of the Bank of Lithuania. It started
with banknote and coin sketches and models made by artists
and ended with production clichés, plates, banknotes and
coins of the present time.
The preparation to introduce the own currency
was started before the restoration of independence. In
this regard a litas and cent design tender was announced
on 14 December 1989. A commission was formed to evaluate
its results. The tender was participated by the artists
Raimundas Miknevièius, Liudvikas Pocius, Giedrius Jonaitis,
Alvydas Mandeika, Rimvydas Bartkus, Justas Tolvaiðas,
Rytis Valantinas and others. The History Institute of
the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences was authorised to prepare
recommendations on the perpetuation of famous persons
and architectural monuments on the Lithuanian banknotes.
Kæstutis Lynikas, a banknote and coin production expert
from Australia, furnished the Bank of Lithuania with the
Lithuanian money sketches made by Australian artists.
Consultations on money production issues were carried
out with foreign companies.
After the establishment of the Bank of Lithuania
on 1 March 1990 and restoration of Lithuania’s independence
on 11 March 1990, groups of experts on various currency
reform issues were formed in the Bank of Lithuania. It
was decided to print litas banknotes in a French company
“ Francois Charles Oberthur”. In the exhibition you might
find the Lithuanian artists’ litas banknote designs presented
to this company. Designs bearing marked places to be used
for banknote security features were exhibited for the
first time.
After cancellation of the negotiations with
the French company, it was decided in the 17 November
1990 meeting of the Government Commission to print litas
in the USA company “ US Banknote Corporation”. After some
modifications the litas banknote designs were sent to
the USA. The exhibition contained the litas banknote designs
according to which the “ US Banknote Corporation” printed
the 1991 issue litas. It also exhibited banknote proof
sheets, computer proofs (by colour splits), banknote production
means used for the production of 19991 and 1993 issue
banknotes.
After the effects of the rouble hyperinflation
on the national economy, in summer of 1991 the Bank of
Lithuania issued universal coupons (special purchase cards)
as legal tender, which together with roubles were used
for the purchase of high demand industrial goods. The
contents and view of universal coupon proof sheets printed
in the Kaunas printing house “ Spindulys” indicate the
intention to call them “bonds”. On 1 May 1992 rouble substitutes
talonas that circulated together with roubles were introduced
into circulation. On 1 October 1992 interim money talonas
was introduced in the Republic of Lithuania and roubles
were withdrawn from circulation. The talonas, the national
monetary unit, became legal tender in Lithuania. Various
plants were printed on the front and animals on the back
of different denomination talonas. 1992 and 1993 issues
talonas designs, clichés, prints were exhibited for the
first time.
Following the 14 June 1993 Resolution of
the Litas Committee , litas and cents were introduced
into circulation. It was determined that one litas was
equal to 100 “talonas”. The exhibition contained banknote
designs of all litas denominations issued in 1991, 1993,
1994, 1997, and 1998, printed in the USA company “ US
Banknote Corporation”, an English company “ Thomas De
La Rue and Company Limited”, and a German company “ Giesecke
&Devrient GmbH”, and 500 litas banknotes printed in
this company, as well as 100 litas banknote designs printed
in a Swiss company “ Orell Fussli Security Printing Ltd”.
Lithuanian money production means obtained from the German
company “ Giesecke&Devrient GmbH” saw daylight in
this exhibition for the first time. These instruments
were intaglio and offset printing plates of 1997 issue
200 Litas and 1998 issue 50 Litas front and back.
Much of the exhibition space was allotted
to designs, models, production instruments of Lithuanian
circulation and commemorative coins. A part of coins (10,
20, 50 cents and 1, 2, 5 litas) was minted in England.
On 30 September 1992 the Lithuanian Mint started to mint
1, 2, 5 cents circulation coins. Presently all Lithuanian
circulation and commemorative coins are minted in the
Lithuanian Mint. Aside approved coin designs, models you
can find tender materials of money creation and production,
accumulated in the Bank of Lithuania within the period
of ten years, exhibited for the first time.
