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Location: Bank of Lithuania (Gedimino pr. 6)
2 October 2012 was a special day for the Lithuanian monetary system, marking 90 years since the national currency – the litas – was first issued on 2 October 1922 and the first central bank of independent Lithuania commenced its operations. On 1 October 1992, a new currency system was created and the provisional talonas became the national currency unit, while roubles were withdrawn from circulation.
The exhibition showcased provisional banknotes issued on 10 September 1922 and banknotes of the 16 November issue, the silver 1, 2, 5 litas coins minted in 1925 at the Royal Mint in London as well as coins of the 1936 and 1938 issues minted at the Spindulys Mint in Kaunas, the 500 litas (specimen, 1924), 10 litas (1927) and 50 litas (1928) banknotes, a savings book and cheques of the Bank of Lithuania, books issued by Vladas Jurgutis – the first Governor of the Bank of Lithuania (1885–1961) – and the famous economist Alfonsas Moravskis (1868–1941).
The second half of the exhibition mainly focused on the history of the litas restoration. The early discussions on the idea of the revival of the national currency began already in 1988, with the start of the Reform Movement of Lithuania called Sąjūdis. The exhibition presented the 1990 litas banknote designs, which were handed over to the Mint of François Charles-Oberthür in France, the general talonas notes used in circulation in 1991, the provisional currency talonas of the 1992–1993 issues, the first banknotes printed in 1991 at the private United States Banknote Corporation as well as the first litas cent coins minted at the Lithuanian Mint.
The exhibition also displayed awards from numismatics exhibitions in Vicenza (Italy) and international coin competitions held in St Petersburg (Russia) that were earned for the collector coins issued by the Bank of Lithuania.