VILNIUS - The Bank of Lithuania said it would announce an open contest for the design of plaster models necessary for the national side of euro coins in June, with the intention of beginning production of the coins as early as mid-2005.
The bank said in a press release that it had been decided that the Lithuanian euro coins should feature the national emblem, the Vytis (white knight).
Audrius Misevicius, a member of the central bank's board, said that they expected to announce the contest in June and name a winner in November. He said that the Lithuanian Mint was technically prepared to produce euro coins but that it still had to obtain accreditation from the European Central Bank.
"We expect to launch mass production a year-and-a-half before Lithuania adopts the euro," he said.
