Lithuanian coin dedicated to basketball recognized world's most beautiful

VILNIUS - One litas coin dedicated to basketball won the award of the most beautiful circulation coin in the Mint Directors Conference, which takes place every two years, the Bank of Lithuania said.

During the XXVII Conference, which took place in Vienna this year, the coins minted in 2011 and 2012 were evaluated. They competed for the nomination of the Most Beautiful coin and the Most Technologically Advanced coin in the categories of commemorative gold coin, other commemorative coin and circulation coin. The Lithuanian coin received an international award for a perfect expression of the theme, simplicity and clarity of the visual expression.

"Commemorative coins of the Bank of Lithuania frequently become winners of various international competitions, however, a circulation coin was awarded for the first time," said Audrius Misevicius, Member of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania, Chairman of the Currency Design and Production Commission.

Saulius Vaitiekunas, Director of the Lithuanian Mint, who received the award, told that it was obvious from the very beginning that the coin dedicated to basketball was the leader among other contenders for this nomination.

"It is difficult to say how many sports fans expressed their sympathy for the coin dedicated to basketball during the secret voting, but it is obvious that the coin, as a result of the team work of artists, the Bank of Lithuania and the Mint, deserved the highest award from the global community of minters," said Vaitiekunas.

The graphic design of the coin was created by Liudas Parulskis, its plaster model by Giedrius Paulauskis. The coins were minted at UAB Lietuvos monetų kalykla (Lithuanian Mint). The coin, which was made of copper and nickel alloy and had a mintage of 1 million pieces, was issued into circulation in June last year.

The Lithuanian Mint was admitted to the Mint Directors Conference as an official member in 1996. Currently, the Conference's members include 48 mints which produce legal tender coins for their countries.