On 7 June the Bank of Lithuania will issue into circulation two collector coins dedicated to Joninės (Rasos). The coins from the series ‘Traditional Lithuanian Celebrations’ will have the same design but different denominations: a €5 coin minted in silver and the so-called pusantrokas – a €1.50 coin from the alloy of copper and nickel.
‘We started this series as a way to expand the range of numismatic coins and encourage more people to take up collecting as a hobby. We intend to issue ten coins within the series, all of which will commemorate various celebrations – both those that are deeply rooted in our traditions and contemporary ones. The coin dedicated to Kaziukas’ Fair, the first coin issued in the series, garnered a lot of attention, thus we hope that the same will hold true for the second one dedicated to Joninės,’ said Marius Jurgilas, Member of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania.
The mintage of the €5 and the €1.5 coin is 3,000 and 30,000 pcs respectively. The reverse of the coins features symbols characteristic of Joninės: a blooming fern, the moon, the sun, and a greenery wreath that twists into a whirlwind. In its centre is a stylised ‘fern blossom’, as if peeking through a drop of dew. The coloured ‘fern blossom’ on the silver coin was designed using a pad-printing technology. The obverse of the coins features the coat of arms of Lithuania, Vytis, made up of stylised droplets of water.
The coins were designed by Eglė Ratkutė, who received an international award for designing the coin dedicated to the 25th Anniversary of the Baltic Way in 2015.
Together with the coin, the Bank of Lithuania will also publish a brochure prepared by ethnologist Libertas Klimka which will elaborate on the traditions of Joninės from pagan times to the present day.
The early sale of the coins will begin on 31 May (8:00) via the e-shop of the Bank of Lithuania coins.lb.lt. The Bank of Lithuania cash offices (Žirmūnų g. 151, Vilnius and Maironio g. 25, Kaunas) will start their sale on 7 June. As usual, on the day the coins are issued as well as on the following day the cash offices will work one hour longer. The coins will be available for purchase through official distributors of numismatic items as well.
The coin dedicated to Joninės (Rasos) is the second coin from the series ‘Traditional Lithuanian Celebrations’. The first one, dedicated to Kaziukas’ Fair, was issued in 2017.
