On March 1, the book "Money and Changes in the Money System in Lithuania (1988-2016)" was presented to the public at the Money Museum. The event was attended by current and former employees of the Bank of Lithuania, former chairmen of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania, economists, historians, and persons who contributed to the creation of the book. The date of the meeting was not chosen by chance. It's not just the first day of spring. in 1990 March 1 the Bank of Lithuania was established, and on this very day, the first Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania, Bronius Povilaitis, who celebrated his seventieth anniversary yesterday, was born. The first copy of the book was ceremoniously presented to him.
The author of the book, historian Vidmantas Laurinavičius, head of the Money Museum, said that it was necessary to publish such a book, which would describe the history of the Lithuanian monetary system of recent times, because we have not had such a comprehensive and systematic work until now. It is true that writing this book was not easy, because the situation in the early years of Lithuania's independence was complicated, the sources were not systematized, many of them no longer survived or simply disappeared. The author had to interview many personalities, creators, and witnesses of that time. Therefore, the writing of the book lasted several years.
"The book is written about everyone, from bank tellers to board chairmen. All those who contributed to the creation and strengthening of the national currency. And it is given to everyone", says the author of the book.
The reviewer of the book, economist, doctor of social sciences, associate professor, signatory of the act of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania on the restoration of the independent state of Lithuania, Stasys Kropas, said that maybe we will not find everything about changes in the monetary system in the book, but the book contains unique information and testimonies about the creation and change of Lithuanian coins and banknotes. a lot.
Another reviewer, economist Meilutė Jasienė, doctor of social sciences, emphasized that this is the first book that examines the monetary system of this period in such detail.
"What is it? Studio? Monograph? Capital, or perhaps fundamental work?" asked rhetorically the third reviewer, Doctor of History Algirdas Jakubčionis. "Whatever it is, this well-sourced work is unique. Telling not only about money, but also about the development of the Lithuanian state. Those who created the litas also created the state. When the litas were replaced by the euro, the state survived and continues to exist."
The book "Money and Changes in the Money System in Lithuania (1988-2016)" for the first time consistently discusses the development of the restored Lithuanian national money, examines issues related to the functioning of the money system. It covers the period from the first steps on the eve of the restoration of Lithuania's independence to the introduction of the EU common currency. The book is written on the basis of thousands of sources, stories of half a dozen people who participated in the creation of money. It is richly illustrated with photos, documents, and detailed illustrated catalogs of banknotes of different periods are provided.
Currently, 500 copies of the book have been published. The publication will not be officially distributed. Its contents will be available in the most important Lithuanian district libraries. True, a digital version of the book will appear in the future.
