From 2 January 2018, numismatic items may be purchased via the Bank of Lithuania e-shop coins.lb.lt (operating instructions (628.8 KB download icon)). The start of the early sale of numismatic items at the e-shop is 5 business days before their date of issue, from 8:00. On and after their date of issue, coins are available for sale both at the e-shop and the Bank of Lithuania cash offices in Vilnius and Kaunas.
During an early sale and on the first day of sale, the total amount of numismatic items sold via the e-shop is limited to 1–5 items per person depending on the numismatic item purchased. No limitations apply afterwards.
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Procedure for the sale of numismatic items and the operation of the e-shop
- Regulations for the Sale of Numismatic Items of the Bank of Lithuania (171.5 KB download icon)
- Regulations for the Operation of the Electronic Shop of the Bank of Lithuania
- Rules for the Sale of Coins dedicated to Ukraine (122.6 KB download icon)
- Description of the procedure for purchasing the sets of 500 and 1000 litas banknotes of the 1991 issue and of 100 litas banknotes of the 1994 issue by submitting an order to the Bank of Lithuania by email (90.7 KB download icon)
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Collector coins
With Lithuania adopting the euro, we continue our numismatic traditions, creating Lithuanian collector coins to perpetuate the most important events and prominent figures, or commemorate their various anniversaries. Coins are minted in series, such as ‘Lithuanian Nature’, ‘Lithuanian Science’ and ‘Traditional Lithuanian Holidays’.
Collector euro coins can be minted by any country in the euro area; they are free to choose their denomination, metal and other characteristics. Such euro coins, as legal tender, are only valid in their country of issue. Nevertheless, collector coins are not usually used in circulation – they end up in the collections of numismatists or are used as gifts or for state representation.
Collector coins are minted in Vilnius at the Lithuanian Mint.
The coins that we issue (both litas and euro) are recognised and valued on an international level. They have been awarded as many as 29 prizes at international contests!
COIN CREATION STRATEGY OF THE BANK OF LITHUANIA FOR 2022-2025 (58.1 KB download icon)
PROCEDURE FOR THE CREATION OF COINS (93.1 KB download icon)
Commemorative coins
Only the €2 denomination can be used for commemorative coins.
As a rule, all of the euro area countries, including the four independent states (Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City), may each issue only two €2 commemorative coins per year. Commemorative euro coins are dedicated to the commemoration of important national and European events. Such coins are legal tender throughout the euro area, which means that they can be used – and must be accepted – just like any other euro coin.
These coins have the same features and properties and the same common side as normal €2 coins. What makes them different is their commemorative design on the national side.
The country itself chooses the themes for these coins. Most of these coins commemorate the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of historic importance. The very first €2 commemorative coin was issued by Greece to commemorate the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004. The first commemorative coin in Lithuania was dedicated to the Lithuanian language.
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Commemorative coins are minted in Vilnius at the Lithuanian Mint |
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Commemorative coins jointly issued by euro area countries
- March 2007 – to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome
- January 2009 – to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Economic and Monetary Union
- January 2012 – to commemorate ten years of euro banknotes and coins
- November 2015 – 30 years of the EU flag
- July 2022 – celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Erasmus Programme
The Bank of Lithuania also issued the coins commemorating 30 years of the EU flag and celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Erasmus Programme.
What is the difference between collector and commemorative euro coins?
| Collector euro coins | Commemorative euro coins |
| Dedicated to occasions, occurrences or anniversaries special to the Lithuanian State, eminent persons, architectural monuments, and important dates related to key events in the shaping of Lithuanian statehood, propagation of universal values, and preservation of commemorative culture and living history | Dedicated to commemorating anything that is of importance at national and European level |
| Denomination – selected by the Member State | Denomination – €2 |
| Metal – chosen by the Member State (can be non-ferrous metals and precious metals – silver, gold, etc.) | Metal – as circulating 2-euro coins (copper, nickel, brass) |
| Weight – depends on selected metal and other features | Weight – 8.50 g (like the €2 circulation coins) |
| Legal tender only in the issuing Member State, but usually not used in circulation | Legal tender throughout the euro area |
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