The Bank of Lithuania (LB) on Thursday issued a commemorative 2-euro coin dedicated to the country's defense. According to LB Board Chairman Gediminas Šimkus, 495 such coins have been put into circulation.
"By issuing this coin, we hope that it will attract the attention of all citizens of the country. This coin is a symbol of our collective determination and responsibility for our country and a reminder that freedom is the achievement of the strength of the nation's spirit, and readiness to defend itself is the right and duty of the country and each of its citizens," the statement quoted Gediminas Šimkus, Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania, as saying.
"The total circulation is half a million units. And the majority of it – 495 thousand – will be distributed throughout Lithuania and the world. This will remind Europe of our determination to defend ourselves," he assured.
As the Bank of Latvia explains, the remaining part of the circulation – 5 thousand high-quality coins in numismatic packaging – was sold during the pre-sale period.
Deputy Minister of National Defence Karolis Aleksa stated that such initiatives help to remind us of the financial needs of defence both in Lithuania and in Europe.
"We are truly pleased with such initiatives and believe that this will draw attention to the need to address defense issues financially," the deputy minister said at the presentation of the new commemorative coin on Thursday.
According to the central bank, the national side of the coin, designed by Karolis Tumelis and Tomas Dragūnas, features the outline of Lithuania in the center, surrounded by a stylized barrier of spikes.
At that time, its common side depicted a geographical image of Europe by the artist Luc Luycx.
