For the population and businesses — more than a million Lithuanian euro coins starter kits

“At least one month prior to the adoption of the new currency the population will already have the opportunity to get acquainted with Lithuanian euro coins by holding them in their hands, while retailers will be able to secure that they will not run short of small change during the first days of the euro adoption,” says Marius Jurgilas, member of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania.

Lithuanian euro coins starter kits will be distributed at face value. The nominal value of a euro coin starter kit designated for the public will be EUR 11.59, an equivalent of LTL 40. It will consist of 23 coins. The starter kit will include 1, 2, 10, 20 and 50 euro cent coins and 1 and 2 euro coins, three of each, and two 5 euro cent coins. A total of 900 thousand such kits will be produced. It is projected that the public will be able to acquire euro coin starter kits as of 1 December at the cash offices of the Bank of Lithuania, commercial banks, branches of AB Lietuvos paštas.

Two types of euro coin starter kits will be designated for retailers. The smaller kit will consist of 320 euro coins: rolls of 8 different denomination coins: 1, 2 and 5 euro cents — 50 coins of each; 10, 20, 50 euro cents — 40 coins of each; 1 and 2 euro — 25 coins of each per roll. The total value of a kit is EUR 111, or LTL 383.26. 60 thousand such kits will be composed.

The larger kit designated for retailers will include 600 coins, with their total face value amounting to EUR 200, or LTL 690.56. They will be packed in 15 rolls: 1 euro cent coins — 3 rolls; 2, 10, 20 euro cents and 1 and 2 euro — 2 rolls of each; 5 euro cent and 50 euro cent coins — 1 roll of each. 1 and 2 euro denomination rolls will include 25 coins each; 10, 20 and 50 euro cents — 40 coins each, while 1, 2 and 5 euro cents — 50 coins each. 50 thousand such kits will be produced.

Frontloading of euro banknotes and coins as well as euro coins starter kits to distribution businesses will take place through commercial banks and will begin 1 month prior to the euro adoption.

Moreover, the Bank of Lithuania has projected to issue 35 thousand souvenir euro coins of BU quality (glossy plane and relief surface) and 7 thousand numismatic sets of circulation euro coins of proof quality (mirror surface, matte relief).

Every state which has adopted the euro enjoys the right of issuing circulation euro coins, one side for all states is common (common side) and the other is unique, different (national side). The circulation euro coins issued by Lithuania will bear three images with the symbol of the State of Lithuania’s coat-of-arms, Vytis, which have been created by sculptor Antanas Žukauskas. The first technological specimens of euros with the Lithuanian side of the 2015 issue are to be minted by UAB Lithuanian Mint already this spring.

Lithuania expects to successfully meet the established requirements for the euro adoption, the so-called Maastricht criteria, and on 1 January 2015 is likely to adopt the single currency of the EU.

Graphic designs for 1 and 2 euro coins

Graphic designs for 10, 20 and 50 euro cent coins

Graphic designs for 1, 2 and 5 euro cent coins

Euro adoption