Lithuania

Commemorative coin

2020

Aukštaitija

(Part of the National series " Lithuanian Etnographic Regions ")

Official Journal of the European Union

The design features a coat of arms with an armour-clad knight holding a sword in his right hand. The coat of arms is held by two angels, simbolically exalting and protecting Aukštaitija – one of the most important regions of Lithuania and the cradle of its statehood. Below is a Latin inscription PATRIAM TUAM MUNDUM EXISTIMA (CONSIDER YOUR HOMELAND TO BE THE WHOLE WORLD). The design is surrounded by inscriptions: ‘LIETUVA’ (the name of the issuing country), ‘AUKŠTAITIJA’, the year of issuance ‘2020’ and the mintmark of the Lithuanian Mint. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

The coin is dedicated to Upper Lithuania, the region shaped by the Baltic Aukstaitic tribe with the cultural centre Panevėžys, where East Aukstaitic is spoken, a dialect of Lithuanian. The coin shows the coat of arms designed by the coin designer Rolandas Rimkūnas himself, which was declared the coat of arms of Aukštaitia in 2006 by the Council for the Protection of Ethnic Culture (established by the Lithuanian Parliament, the Seimas). It depicts a knight in armour called Vytis ("the persecutor"), who carries a sword with his right hand. The coat of arms is held by two angels praising and protecting Aukštaitija - one of the most important regions of Lithuania and the cradle of its statehood - and is placed above the Latin motto "PATRIAM TUAM MUNDUM EXISTIMA" (Consider your homeland as the whole world).

Edge lettering

Designer