10 Litų 2007, Lithuania
| in Krause book | Number: 68 |
| Years of issue: | 2007 |
| Edition: | |
| Signatures: | Lietuvos Banko Valdybos Pirmininkas: Reinoldijus Sarkinas (in office from 15.02.1996 till 15.04.2011) |
| Serie: | 2007 Issue |
| Specimen of: | 2007 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 135 x 65 |
| Printer: | Giesecke und Devrient GmbH, Muenchen |
* All pictures marked 
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.
Description
Watermark:
Lithuanian coat of arms. Security strip.
Avers:
The engraving made after this photo of Lithuanian pilots, taken from the book by Steponas Darius' daughter, Nijolė Dariūtė-Maštarienė, issued under the name "Darius ir Girėnas".
On left side, on background, is the spinning propeller of "Lituanica".
Steponas Darius (known as Stephen Darius in the USA, born Steponas Darašius; January 8, 1896 - July 17, 1933) was a Lithuanian American pilot.
Born in Rubiškė, in the Kovno Governorate of the Russian Empire,Darius emigrated to the USA with his family in 1907. In 1917 he joined the United States Army, after the United States entered World War I, and changed his name to Darius. He served as a telephone operator in the 149th Field Artillery Regiment, fought in France, was wounded and received the Purple Heart medal. In 1920 he returned to Lithuania and joined the Lithuanian Army, graduating from military school in 1921. He helped to organize the Klaipėda Revolt of 1923. While living in Lithuania he completed pilot training. In 1927 he returned to the USA and started working in civil aviation. He initially formed "South Bend Airways" in partnership with Carl G. Jordan of South Bend, Indiana. Their fleet consisted of a "Pheasant H-10" and a "Longwing Eaglerock", both powered by OX-5 engines of World War I vintage. He lived for a while in the Jordan household prior to moving to Chicago.
While living in Lithuania he actively promoted various sports. He initiated building of first stadium in Kaunas; it was later was named after him - the S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium. He played basketball, baseball, ice hockey, and practiced boxing and athletics, while also being an international footballer, having played for Lithuania national football team in its first competitive game against Estonia on June 23, 1923. Since he was the first to publish booklets about basketball and baseball, he is considered to have brought those sports to Lithuania. He was also the first chairman of Lithuanian Physical Education Union, and a founder of Sporto Žurnalas (Sports magazine).
On July 15, 1933, along with Stasys Girėnas, he attempted a nonstop flight from New York City, USA to Kaunas, Lithuania - a total of 7,186 km, in a "Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker" airplane, named "Lituanica". After successfully crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 37 hours and 11 minutes, they crashed on July 17, at 0:36 AM (Berlin Time), by the village of Kuhdamm, near Soldin, Germany (now Pszczelnik, near the Myślibórz area, Poland), most probably because of difficult weather conditions combined with engine problems. Both aviators were killed in the crash. They had covered a distance of 3,984 miles (6,411 kilometers) without landing, and were only 650 km short of their final destination.
Stasys Girėnas (known as Stanley T. Girenas in the USA, born Stasys Girskis October 4, 1893 - July 17, 1933) was a Lithuanian-American pilot.
Girenas was born in Vytogala, in the Šilalė district of Lithuania, then part of the Russian Empire. In 1910, when he was 17 years old, he emigrated to the United States, and settled in Chicago. As a young man he worked in a printing house. In 1917, upon the entry of the U.S. into World War I, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he was trained as a mechanic. In 1919, after being honorably discharged, he worked as a cab driver, and at the same time learned to fly. He acquired a plane in 1925. Despite being injured in an air crash, he continued flying and working in civil aviation. In 1931 he won the first prize at the Chicago Air Festival for the best landing of a plane with its engine turned off.
Denominations in numerals are in top left and lower right corners, also centered. Lower left in words.
Revers:
"Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker" airplane, named Lituanica, on which Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas attempted to make a nonstop flight from New York City, USA to Kaunas, Lithuania.
On background is a map of Europe and North America.
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 ("the Chaser"). The Lithuanian coat of arms is one of the oldest national coats of arms in Europe. It is one of very few containing symbolism adopted from ducal portrait seals rather than from coats of arms of dynasties, which is the case for most European countries.
Article 15 of the Constitution of Lithuania, approved by national referendum in 1992, stipulates, "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.
Denominations in numerals are in lower left and top right corners. Lower, centered, in words.
Comments:
Designer: Giedrius Jonaitis.
I got this note in Klaipeda, in November 2010.
If you find my work useful I will be grateful for any help in supporting the site.
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