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Tuesday, 12 March 2024

3218) 25th Anniversary of becoming a NATO member & joining the European Union (EU), Lithuania: The Lithuanian Mint has issued 20 Euro Silver Coin celebrating the milestone: Date of Coin issue: First Quarter of 2024:

3218) 25th Anniversary of becoming a NATO member & joining the European Union (EU), Lithuania: The Lithuanian Mint has issued 20 Euro Silver Coin celebrating the milestone: Date of Coin issue: First Quarter of 2024:

This year Lithuania marks the 25th Anniversary of becoming a member of NATO as well as having joined the European Union.

After the restoration of independence from Soviet occupation of this Baltic Nation in 1990.

The Header/Banner shows the Obverse and Reverse of the 20 Euro Silver Coin against a background representation of the NATO emblem. "LIETUVOS BANK" ia at bottom left.

Lithuania's successive governments  sought greater economic and  civil cooperation with countries in the West. Democratic principles and a market economy were soon restored which resulted in an almost complete overhaul of the country's neglected and antiquated infrastructure. This was primarily achieved through international investment from neighbouring European countries and the USA through the Lithuanian diaspora.

These efforts resulted in a much higher standard of living within a short period of time, which soon became parallel with many other European countries.

As such, Lithuania was granted candidate status to join the European Union in December 1998, the first step to eventual full membership. Soon after and in an effort to safeguard continued Lithuanian sovereignty most especially from future Russian aggression and occupation. Lithuania was invited to apply for full membership. in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation - NATO - during the Alliance's summit in Prague in November 2002.

Ultimately, the first of Lithuania's natiomnal objectives were achieved on 29.03.2004, when NATO announced together with Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia they would become full members of the alliance. With the addition of these seven European nations expanded to 26 countries and resulted in the largest wave of enlargement in NATOs then 55 years history.

This was considered an important achievement for Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia who were formerly part of the now-defunct Soviet Union. For Lithuanians, NATO membership ensured not only moilitary strength and homeland protection, but also a continuance of foreign investments which saw this step as a guarantee of stability and economic security.

In May 2003, Lithuania held a national referendum for its citizens to have theie say on membership of the European Union. Of  the more than 2.6 million votes cast over ninety percent supported Lithuania joining the EU. The EU council announced the day of accession as 01.05.2004 for Lithuania and the other candidate member countries whose membership was also approved.

The Coins:

The Silver Proof and Colour Coins haved neen minted by the Mint of Lithuania at their facilities in Vilnius on behalf of the Bank of Lithuania and designed  by Antanas Pocevicius.

The design benefits from an innovative uneven surface along with incused insignias and lettering.


 The centre of the Obverse of the 20 Euro Silver Coin features Lithuania's tricolour Flag whose colours symbolise the independence of the Lithuanian State and which provided the basis for becoming a full member of both NATO and the EU.

The Flag is accompanied by the Coat of Arms of Lithuania - the Vytis - shown to the right of the flag.

The inscription "LIETUVA" (Lithuania) and year of issue "2024" is placed to the lower right of the flag and the denomination "20 Euro" is seen to the left of the flag.

The distinctive mintmark of the Lithuanian Mint is placed to the lower left.

The Reverse of the 20 Euro Silver Coin also features Lithuania's tricolour, which is accompanied by the NATO insignia to the left and the EU insignia of a circle of 12 five-pointed stars shown on the right side.

In a vertical direction is Lithuania's accession date to NATO shown as "2004 03 29" placed below the flag. In the opposite vertical placement above the flag is the accession date of Lithuania to the EU shown as "2004 01 05".

On the background of the left side is the text of "Article 5" of the North Atlantic Treaty translated into Lithuanian and shown in micro text. On the background of the right side is the musical score of the EU's anthem - Ode top Joy from Beethoven.s 9th Symphony.

The specifications of the Silver 20 Euro Coin are:
Country: Lithuania; Denomination: 20 Euro; Year: 2024; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 28.2 grams; Diameter/Size: 38.6 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P) and Colour; Coins minted by the Mint of Lithuania at their facilities in Vilnius on behalf of the Bank of Lithuania; Designer: Antanas Pocevicius.

- The Bank of Lithuania has indicate the release date for this coin is during the first quarter of 2024



 


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1 comment:

  1. Santosh Khanna has commented:
    "Thanks for sharing this informative and interesting post."

    ReplyDelete