2014-06-17
On the coin dedicated to Baltic Studies — a small piece from the lives of the Balts thousands of years ago
The 10 litas collectors (commemorative) coin issued into circulation by the Bank of Lithuania and dedicated to Baltic Studies, artistically immortalises an amber disc — a thick, irregularly-shaped archaeological find, reminiscent of a button, from the Neolithic period and assigned to the culture of the Balts. The new gold coin was presented to the public at Vilnius University, in the Aisčių menė (“Hall of the Aesti”).
“Baltic Studies, which explore the spiritual and material culture of the Balts, helped us, the Lithuanian nation, understand where we came from, who we are and what lies ahead for us in the future. In issuing this coin we sought to emphasise the importance of this branch of science and to honour those who contributed by studying and glorifying the Lithuanian and other Baltic languages, as well its cultural treasure-trove,” said Marius Jurgilas, Member of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania.
Vilnius University rector habil. dr. Jūras Banys, says that “The most important research in Baltic Studies is done here, in the Baltic Studies Department of Vilnius University, in close cooperation with global centres of Baltic Studies. It is no mistake that the coin dedicated to Baltic Studies is presented to the public here, in the very heart of this field of science, where the forces of researchers in Baltic linguistics, history, archaeology come together”.
Moments from the presentation of the coin: (from left to right) Saulius Vaitiekūnas, Director of UAB Lithuanian Mint, Marius Jurgilas, Member of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania, VU rector Prof. habil. dr. Jūras Banys, Prof. habil. dr. Bonifacas Stundžia, author of the brochure’s text, Dean of the VU Philology Department, Doc. dr. Antanas Smetona. Photos by Gediminas Savickas (ELTA)
From the 1960’s, Vilnius University has been famous as a global centre of Baltic Studies; in 1965 it began issuing the journal Baltistica, organising a congress of Baltic Studies researchers and other international conferences. Currently, around the world (mostly in Europe) there are over 30 centres of Baltic Studies, where Baltic languages and culture are studied and/or are taught by people ranging from one to more than a dozen.
The coin dedicated to Baltic Studies was created by the artist Vaidotas Skolevičius, while the text of the accompanying brochure was authored by Prof. habil. dr. Bonifacas Stundžia.
Marius Jurgilas, Member of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania, presents the coin to its author, artist Vaidotas Skolevičius.
This is the second coin of the series “Lithuanian Science”. The first was issued in 2012 and was dedicated to Lithuania’s achievements in cardiac surgery. The third coin of the series, dedicated to physics, will be issued in several years. In issuing coins from this series, the immortalised fields of science are discussed by the Bank of Lithuania with the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences.
Obverse of the coin.
The coins were minted by the Lithuanian Mint. Mintage — 5,000 units.
The coins, from their date of issue, can be purchased at the cash offices of the Bank of Lithuania in Vilnius (Totorių g.2/8 and Žirmūnų g. 151) and Kaunas (Maironio g. 25). The price for one coin in a display box is LTL 210.
The coin dedicated to Baltic Studies is the 86th collectors (commemorative) coin issued by the Bank of Lithuania and is also the 12th gold coin. The Bank of Lithuania has been issuing collectors (commemorative) coins since 1993. This tradition will live on even when Lithuania adopts the euro — the Bank of Lithuania will be able to issue commemorative and collectors euro coins.