2014-01-24
The Bank of Lithuania announces a competition for the graphic design for the first collector euro coin
By 21 March of this year, graphic designs for the gold coin devoted to Coinage in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania can be presented to the Bank of Lithuania. Should Lithuania adopt the euro in 2015, the coin on this subject would become the first Lithuanian collector euro coin.
“We are inviting artists in two months to create and present to the Bank of Lithuania graphic designs for the obverse and reverse of the coin, the best selected of which, once Lithuania adopts the single currency of the EU, would become the first Lithuanian collector euro coins. This is a unique opportunity to take part in the opening of a new page in the history of national numismatics,” says member of the Board of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania Marius Jurgilas.
Under the terms and conditions of the competition , the reverse of the creation should thoroughly reveal the subject of the coin — coinage in Lithuania since the time of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to the present day. The obverse should feature the State's coat-of-arms or the modified symbol of the coat-of-arms, Vytis, other compositional elements selected by the author revealing the coin's subject, and the inscription “LIETUVA”.
The Board of the Bank of Lithuania decided that if the Council of the European Union takes a decision on the date of adoption of the euro in Lithuania (1 January 2015), the first collector euro gold coin, devoted to Coinage in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, would be issued in the first quarter of 2015. It is to appear in circulation at the beginning of the next year. Its projected mintage is 5,000, denomination — EUR 50.
Once within the euro area, Lithuania would continue national numismatic tradition: each member state of the euro area has the right to issue both circulation commemorative and collector coins.