Banknotes of the Lithuanian Litas Overview

The Lithuanian litas was the official currency of Lithuania from 1922 to 2015. It was introduced after Lithuania declared independence from Russia.

The first banknotes of the Lithuanian litas were issued in 1922, with denominations ranging from 1 to 100 litas. These early banknotes featured a portrait of Antanas Smetona, the president of Lithuania at the time.

The design of the banknotes changed over the years, with new series introduced in 1993 and 2002. The 1993 series featured a new security thread and improved color-shifting ink.

The 2002 series included a new denomination of 10 litas, which was introduced to reduce the number of coins in circulation.

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The Lithuanian litas had several denominations over the years.

The first series of litas banknotes, introduced in 1922, featured denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 1000 litas.

The 1993 series of banknotes, also known as the "Šaltinis" series, featured denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500 litas.

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The 10 litas banknote is a notable denomination in Lithuania's currency. It was first released in 1991 and has undergone several redesigns since then.

The reverse side of the 10 litas banknote features Lithuanian heroes Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas, who attempted a historic flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1933. They flew in a small plane called Lituanica.

The obverse of the banknote depicts Lituanica flying over the Atlantic Ocean, with visible shores of North America and Europe. This design has been a part of the banknote's design since its release.

The banknote was designed and redesigned by Giedrius Jonaitis, who initially intended for Darius and Girėnas to be featured on the 5 litai banknote. However, they ended up on the 10 litas banknote instead.

The first design of the 10 litas banknote was released in 1993, but it was later replaced due to concerns about counterfeiting. The design has been released in different versions four times, with the most recent one being in 2001.

In 1993, a silver commemorative coin was issued to mark the 60th anniversary of Lituanica's flight. The coin featured the portraits of Darius and Girėnas.

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The 100 litų banknote has had a few design changes over the years. It initially featured Simonas Daukantas, the initiator of the national rebirth movement and historian, who wrote the first history of Lithuania in the Lithuanian language.

The 1991 release of the 100 litų banknote did not spread widely and was eventually withdrawn from the market, to be exchanged for a new banknote at the Bank of Lithuania central office. The new banknote was introduced in 2000 and featured a portrait of Vydūnas, a prominent Lithuanian philosopher, writer, poet, and musician.

The new 100 litų banknote had 19 security features and a brighter, sharper design. It resembled more the 200 and 500 litų banknotes than the 10, 20, or 50 litų banknotes in format.

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The 200 Litas banknote issued in 1997 featured a portrait of Vydunas, a prominent Lithuanian philosopher, writer, poet, playwright, musician, pedagogue, and culture educator.

The 20 Litas banknote features a portrait of Maironis, a renowned Lithuanian poet and bard of the Lithuanian national rebirth.

The 500 Litas banknote issued in 2000 is a unique piece of Lithuanian currency. It features a portrait of Vincas Kudirka, a Lithuanian writer and author of the national anthem, on the right side of the note.

The banknote measures 147mm x 70mm, making it slightly bigger than the standard size. It has 22 security features, more than the typical 16-19 features found on other banknotes.

The design of the banknote was created by Giedrius Jonaitis, who was the only designer to release a 500 Litas banknote. It was initially doubted if Lithuania needed a 500 Litas banknote, as it was more than the minimum monthly salary at the time.

The back of the note shows the Bell of Freedom in the background of Nemunas loops, a well-known scenery in Lithuania. The bell is inscribed with a poem created by Bronius Kazys Balutis, which became the motto of the Bell of Freedom newspaper.

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The Litas was the currency of Lithuania from 1922 to 2015. It's interesting to note that the old Lithuanian 1 Litas note was first issued in 1994.

The note measures 135mm x 65mm and features Julija Zemaite and a building.

The former designs of Lithuanian litas banknotes are quite interesting. The first notable design is the 1 litas note, which was released in 1994.

Some other denominations that were designed but never issued include the 2 litai and 5 litai notes, both released in 1993.

The designs for the 500 and 1000 litų notes were also created for the first 1993 series, but they were never printed. Interestingly, these designs are very similar to the 100-litas note of the same series.

Here's a quick look at some of the former designs:

The pictures gallery of Lithuanian litas banknotes is a treasure trove of history and design.

The first series of banknotes, introduced in 1922, featured a portrait of Antanas Smetona, the President of Lithuania at the time.

Each denomination had a unique design, with the 10 litas note showcasing a scene of the Vilnius University.

The 1925 series saw the introduction of a new design, with the 5 litas note featuring a portrait of Maironis, a renowned Lithuanian poet.

The 50 litas note from the 1925 series featured a beautiful depiction of the Vilnius Cathedral.

The 1936 series brought about a new design, with the 10 litas note featuring a portrait of Jonas Basanavičius, a key figure in Lithuania's struggle for independence.

The 1936 series also introduced a new security feature, a watermarked paper that made the notes more difficult to counterfeit.

The 100 litas note from the 1936 series featured a portrait of Petras Vileišis, a prominent Lithuanian banker and politician.

The 1941 series was introduced during the German occupation of Lithuania and featured a new design, with the 10 litas note showcasing a scene of the Kaunas Castle.

The 1941 series also introduced a new security feature, a raised print of the Lithuanian coat of arms.

The 1942 series saw the introduction of a new design, with the 1 litas note featuring a portrait of a Lithuanian peasant woman.

The 1942 series also featured a new security feature, a thread with a woven pattern that ran through the paper.

The 1944 series was introduced towards the end of World War II and featured a new design, with the 10 litas note showcasing a scene of the Vilnius University.

The 1944 series also introduced a new security feature, a hologram-like effect that made the notes more difficult to counterfeit.

The 1955 series saw the introduction of a new design, with the 10 litas note featuring a portrait of a Soviet soldier.

The 1955 series also featured a new security feature, a watermarked paper that made the notes more difficult to counterfeit.

The 1965 series brought about a new design, with the 10 litas note showcasing a scene of the Kaunas Castle.

The 1965 series also introduced a new security feature, a raised print of the Lithuanian coat of arms.

The 1990 series was introduced during the Lithuanian independence movement and featured a new design, with the 10 litas note featuring a portrait of a Lithuanian folk dancer.

The 1990 series also introduced a new security feature, a hologram-like effect that made the notes more difficult to counterfeit.

The 1993 series saw the introduction of a new design, with the 10 litas note showcasing a scene of the Vilnius University.

The 1993 series also featured a new security feature, a watermarked paper that made the notes more difficult to counterfeit.

The Lithuanian litas was the official currency of Lithuania from 1922 to 2015. The first Lithuanian litas was introduced in 1922 after World War I, replacing the ostmark and ostruble issued by German forces.

The official currency symbol was Lt / ct. The Bank of Lithuania issued notes in denominations of 1 centas, 2 centu, 5 centai, 10, 20, 50-centų, and 1 litas, 2 litu, 5 litai, 10, 50, 100 litų, followed by 500 and 1000 litų in 1924.

In 1925, all denominations below 5 litai were replaced by coins. The litas was introduced again after Lithuania declared independence in 1993.

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Banknotes dated in 1991 were introduced in denominations of 1 litas, 2, 5 litai, 10, 20, 50, 100 litų. However, these were discovered to be easily reproduced, prompting the introduction of the second set of notes in denominations of 1 litas, 2, 5 litai, 10, 20, 50 litų, only the 100 litų notes of the first series remaining in circulation.

The 50 Lithuanian litų note features the portrait of Jonas Basanavičius, an activist and defender of the Lithuanian National Renaissance.

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The Lithuanian litas had several denominations, but the most common ones were the 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 litas banknotes.

The 1 and 2 litas banknotes featured the image of the Vilnius Cathedral.

The 5 and 10 litas banknotes featured the image of the Šiauliai Hill Fort.

The 20 and 50 litas banknotes featured the image of the Trakai Island Castle.

The 100 and 200 litas banknotes featured the image of the Vilnius University.

The 500 litas banknote featured the image of the Gediminas' Tower.

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The 20 litų banknote has a fascinating history. It was first released in 1930 and featured a portrait of Maironis, a renowned Lithuanian romantic poet.

The obverse of the 1930 banknote showcased the Vytautas the Great War Museum in Kaunas, highlighting its carillon tower. This design element is quite notable.

The reverse of the 1930 banknote depicted the Statue of Liberty by Juozas Zikaras, commemorating Lithuania's declaration of independence in 1918. This iconic image has remained a significant part of the banknote's design.

In 1991, the 20 litų banknote was re-released, but it sparked an international scandal due to its design. This led to a quick replacement.

The 1993 release of the 20 litų banknote was designed by Justas Tolvaišis, marking a new era for the denomination.

The 50 litų banknote was first issued in 1928 and features a portrait of Dr. Jonas Basanavičius, a national patriarch and statesman who signed Lithuania's Declaration of Independence in 1918.

It's worth noting that this banknote is unique in that it closely represents a banknote released in interwar Lithuania. The 50 litų banknote has undergone several redesigns since its initial release.

The 1991 release of the 50 litų banknote was short-lived, and it was eventually replaced by a new design in 1993. The new design, created by Ray Bartkus, featured Vilnius Cathedral and indistinctive houses of Vilnius Old Town.

The 1998 release of the 50 litų banknote updated the design to include more of the city's monuments, providing a more comprehensive view of Vilnius.

The 2003 issue of the 50 litų banknote, designed by Rytis Valantinas, was the last of its kind, but its design was already outdated due to the construction of the Royal Palace, which was not included in the image.

The 500 litų banknote was slightly bigger than the rest, measuring 147 mm x 70 mm.

It has 22 security features, a higher number than other banknotes which have 16-19.

The designer of the banknote was Giedrius Jonaitis.

It was the only release of its kind.

The 500 Litu note, on the other hand, was first issued in 2000 and measures 135mm x 65mm.

It also depicts Kudirka and a bell.

The 500 litų banknote featured a portrait of Vincas Kudirka, a Lithuanian writer and author of the national anthem.

The back of the note showed the Bell of the Freedom in the background of Nemunas loops.

The bell's inscription reads: "Thou shalt ring through the centuries to the children of Lithuania: he who does not defend freedom is not worthy of it".

This four-line poem was created by Bronius Kazys Balutis and became the motto of Bell of Freedom, a newspaper published by one of the partisan groups.

The 2 Litai note was first issued in 1993. It's interesting to note that this denomination has a unique design. The old Lithuanian 2 Litai note measures 135mm x 65mm. This size is likely to be a standard for Lithuanian currency notes.

The 5 Litai note is a unique piece of Lithuanian currency history. It was first issued in 1993.

This note measures 135mm x 65mm, making it a distinct size among other denominations.

The 10 litų banknote features Lithuanian heroes Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas, who flew from New York City with a small plane called Lituanica in 1933.

The reverse of the 10 litų banknote shows Lituanica flying over the Atlantic Ocean with visible shores of North America and Europe.

Giedrius Jonaitis designed the banknote, and it was released in different designs four times, starting in 1993.

The first design started an international scandal due to being virtually unprotected against counterfeiting, which delayed the introduction of the litas.

The banknote bearing the date "1991" was released for a short time and quickly replaced by the 1993 issue.

A 10 litų silver commemorative coin was issued in 1993 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Lituanica's flight, featuring the pilots.

The old Lithuanian 10 Litu note, first issued in 1991, depicts 2 aviators and a plane, measuring 135mm x 65mm.

The 100 litų banknote has a rich history. It was first released in 1991, featuring Simonas Daukantas, a key figure in Lithuania's national rebirth movement.

The initial 1991 release didn't quite live up to expectations, and it was eventually withdrawn from circulation. It could only be exchanged for a new banknote at the Bank of Lithuania's central office.

The new 100 litų banknote was introduced in 2000, with a significant design change. It featured a portrait of Vydūnas, a prominent Lithuanian philosopher and writer.

The 2000 banknote boasted 19 security features, making it a more secure note than its 1991 predecessor. It also had a brighter and sharper design, with a focus on the Vilnius University campus.

The old 100 Litu note, issued in 1991, measured 135mm x 65mm and depicted Daukantas alongside a building.