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5 Litai 1922, Lithuania

in Krause book Number: 15
Years of issue: 16.11.1922
Edition:
Signatures: V. Jurgutis, A. Prūsas, P. Grajauskas, Julius Kaupas, J. Paknys
Serie: 16.11.1922 Issue
Specimen of: 1922
Material: Cotton fiber
Size (mm): 120 х 70
Printer: Andreas Haase Graphische Anstalt, Prague

* All pictures marked magnify are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.

** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.

5 Litai 1922

Description

Watermark:

watermark

Ovals (as saying website www.pinigai.lt).

Avers:

5 Litai 1922

National patterns of Lithuania are shown along the entire field of the banknote.

A peasant (sower) is shown in the center, and the rising sun in the background.

Revers:

5 Litai 1922

Woman (spinner) at the spinning wheel.

Inscription at the bottom: "BANKNOTŲ PADIRBIMAS ĮSTATYMU BAUDŽIAMAS".

In English: "Falsification of banknotes is punishable by law".

Denominations are on the top. pattern is across all field of banknote.

symbols

On the top, right and left, are Lithuanian symbos - The Columns and Lorraine or Jagiellonian cross (from Lithuanian coat of arms, on the rider's shield).

The Cross of Lorraine (French: Croix de Lorraine), known as Cross of Anjou in the XVI century, is a heraldic two-barred cross, consisting of a vertical line crossed by two shorter horizontal bars. In most renditions, the horizontal bars are "graded" with the upper bar being the shorter, though variations with the bars of equal length are also seen. The Lorraine name has come to signify several cross variations, including the patriarchal cross with its bars near the top.

A golden double cross with equal bars, known as the Cross of Jagiellons, was used by Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Jogaila since his conversion to Christianity in 1386, as a personal insignia and was introduced in the coat of arms of Lithuania. Initially, the lower bar of the cross was longer than the upper, since it originates from the Hungarian type of the double cross. It later became the symbol of Jagiellonian dynasty and is one of the national symbols of Lithuania, featured in the Order of the Cross of Vytis and the badge of the Lithuanian Air Force.

The Columns of Gediminas or Pillars of Gediminids are one of the earliest symbols of Lithuania and one of its historical coats of arms. They were used in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, initially as a rulers' personal insignia, a state symbol, and later as a part of heraldic signs of leading aristocracy. During the period between World War I and World War II they were used by the Lithuanian Republic as a minor state symbol, e. g. on Litas coins and military equipment.

watermark

The symbol appears in the following form: horizontal line at bottom, vertical lines extent up at both sides. The square at the middle of the horizontal line is about half as tall as the vertical lines. Another vertical line rises from the top center of the square, giving an overall appearance is close to a trident. This form is the one usually seen in modern times, often drawn on walls and fences as protest against the Soviet occupation of Lithuania.

It is notable that the ancient pre-Christian symbols of Lithuania did not follow the same strict rules of heraldry as their western counterparts. Thus this symbol was used in Or and argent, usually on the field gules, and was depicted in various shapes on flags, banners and shields.

The name "Columns of Gediminas" was given in the XIX century by historian Teodor Narbutt, who supposed that the symbol was Gediminas' insignia. The more exact name of the symbol is the Pillars of Gediminids, since there is no direct evidence of its connection with Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas.

coat

There is no coat of arms on the banknote. But the horseman's shield shows the Lorraine cross.

Lithuanian Coat of Arms (also known as Vytis) - the official state symbol of the independent Republic of Lithuania (the variant used from 1918 to 1940).

The coat of arms of Lithuania, consisting of an armour-clad knight on horseback holding an olden sword and shield, is also known as Vytis (pronounced [ʋiːt̪ɪs], "the Chaser"). The Lithuanian coat of arms is one of the oldest national coats of arms in Europe.

"The Coat of Arms of the State shall be a white Vytis on a red field". Heraldic shield features the field Gules (red) with an armoured knight on a horse salient Argent (white). The knight is holding in his dexter hand a sword Argent above his head. A shield Azure hangs on the sinister shoulder of the knight with a double cross Or (yellow) on it. The horse saddle, straps, and belts are Azure. The hilt of the sword and the fastening of the sheath, the stirrups, the curb bits of the bridle, the horseshoes, as well as the decoration of the harness, are Or (gold).

The blazon is the following:

Gules, a knight armed cap-à-pie mounted on a horse salient argent, brandishing a sword proper and maintaining a shield azure charged with a cross of Lorraine Or."

Comments:

Designer: Adomas Varnas.

document

Aleksandras Stulginskis, acting temporarily President of the Republic of Lithuania, signed the Law on the Monetary Unit in August 22, 1922. The Ministry of Finance, Industry and Trade (the Bank of Lithuania was not yet established), under the leadership of Minister Vytautas Petrulis, was already in charge of the design and production of the first Litas. September 25 by his order it was declared that "since 1922 October month. The new monetary unit, Litas, is introduced on Day 1. (The change of the Ostmark to the Litas began on October 2, as October 1 was Sunday.) Vytautas Petrulis, Minister of Finance, Trade and Industry, 1922 d. October 1." The exchange rate for the exchange of Ostmark for the Litas was published - one lit per 175 Ostmark. (kultura.lrytas.lt .lithuan)