Lithuanian euro samples minted

2015 Lithuanian euro coin samples have been minted

The Board of the Bank of Lithuania approved 2015 issue Lithuanian euro coin samples, which will be the basis for the Lithuanian circulation euro coins, the Bank of Lithuania informs, reports ELTA.

"The euro in Lithuania is taking an actual physical form - the Lithuanian coins with the 2015 date now exist not only on paper, but have been minted from metal as well. The circulation euro coin samples are high quality examples of coins - they will be the basis for the coins jingling in the purses of the Lithuanian population," says Vitas Vasiliauskas, Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania.

According to Vasiliauskas, mass-minting of the Lithuanian euro coins is planned for the end of summer, when the decision of the Council of the European Union, regarding the euro adoption in Lithuania, will be announced. Until then, small amounts of test sample coins may be minted, seeking to test the coin blanks, minting tools and the coin measuring-control equipment. The overall demand for Lithuanian euro coins is around 370 million units.

The national side of the Lithuanian circulation euro coins was designed by the sculptor Antanas Zukauskas. The Board of the Bank of Lithuania has three different designs for the national side (obverse). They depict the symbol from the emblem of the Lithuanian State - Vytis, and it is surrounded by the inscriptions LIETUVA (Lithuania), 2015 and twelve stars: on the 1 and 2 euro coins - a background of vertical lines; the 10, 20 and 50 euro cent coins - horizontal lines; on the 1, 2 and 5 euro cent coins - a plain surface.