5 litai LITHUANIA (1991)

diameter:	weight:	thickness:	alloy:
23.0 mm	4.36 g	1.45 mm	Cu₇₂Ni₂₅

obverse:

in the centre Coat of Arms (Vytis) by Juozas Zikaras, below in two lines centered: LIETUVA / 1991 (Lithuania and year of issue)

reverse:

face value: 5 centered, blazed with Sun-rays spreading from the zenith, below, centered: LITAI

edge:

reeded

issue date:

25 VI 1993

withdrawal date:

1 I 1996

designer:

Petras Garška

mint:

The Birmingham Mint, Birmingham, United Kingdom

mintage:

1991

~ 2 000 000

never published, rough estimate

+ 7 000 in annual boxed sets 1991

interesting facts:

Coins of face values 1, 2 and 5 litas were criticised for their similarity in size and colour to aluminium cent-coins. The aesthetics was also far from satisfactory and a specific design of Sun-rays triggered their nickname "litas taking shower". The initial idea of Petras Garška assumed reeded edge with exactly 50 serrations symbolising 50 years of Soviet occupation. Based on our pieces we deduce that it was technically impossible and the number of serrations is larger.

In addition, these types of coins appeared to be also very easy to counterfeit. After less than 3 years the coins "taking shower" were removed from circulation and replaced temporarily by banknotes of respective values.

Lithuanian banknotes

last update: 01 I 2013

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