Vytauto Didžiojo atvaizdas numizmatikoje

LTŠiuolaikinėje lituanistinėje numizmatikoje įsivyravo nuomonė, kad kaltinių lietuviškų monetų pradininkai yra Vladislovas II Jogaila ir jo pusbrolis Aleksandras Vytautas, vadintas Didžiuoju. Manoma, kad pirmąsias kaltines monetas iškalė Jogaila 1386-1387 m., besiruošdamas krikštui ir numatomoms vedyboms su Lenkijos karaliene Jadvyga. Neatsitiktinai šių smulkių ne viso gramo svorio monetų averse pateikiamas karūnuoto Vytauto portretas iš priekio ir neretai yra įrašas: „MAGNA REGINA" arba „VLADISLAUS REX", o reverse vaizduojamas stilizuotas liūtas. Vėlesnėse monetose pavaizduoti jau tik šalies ir giminės simboliai - Vytis ir dvigubas kryžius. Tokios tradicijos laikėsi ir 1392 m. įsitvirtinęs, o 1393-1430 m. Lietuvos didžiuoju kunigaikščiu tapęs Aleksandras Vytautas - Vytautas Didysis. Jo monetų yra kelių tipų. Stambiausios - 16-18 mm skersmens, sveria net iki 1,45 g. Jų averse vaizduojamas ietgalis ir kryžius, reverse senąja slavų kalba užrašyta „ПЕЧАТЬ". Kai kas tokias monetas laiko puse Prahos grašio, tarptautinės XIV-XV a. Vidurio ir Rytų Europos valiutos2. Didesnės dalies Vytauto kaltų pinigų masė ir skersmuo mažesni. Šiose monetose įrašą „ПЕЧАТЬ" pakeičia Gediminaičių stulpai. Žinoma ir kitų, retesnių variantų. Tačiau nė vienoje Vytauto Didžiojo kaltoje monetoje nėra valdovo portreto3-4. Apie jo išvaizdą žinome tik iš išlikusio labai stilizuoto gotikinio majestotinio antspaudo ir trumpų amžininkų aprašymų. [Iš straipsnio, p. 25]

ENThe prevailing opinion in modern Lithuanian numismatics states that the pioneers of Lithuanian minted coins are Władysław II Jagiełło (1386-1434), the king of Poland, and his cousin, the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas (1392-1430). It is thought that the first coins were minted by Jagiełło during the preparation for his marriage to Jadwiga (1384-1399), the queen of Poland, and the Christianization of Lithuania. It is not a coincidence that the obverse of these small coins features a crowned portrait on the front, often with an inscription "MAGNA REGINA" or "VLADISLAUS REX”, and a stylized lion on the reverse. This tradition was also adhered to by Vytautas, who consolidated his power and became the Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1392. However, none of the coins minted by Vytautas the Great had a portrait of the ruler on them. His appearance is only known from the surviving Gothic majestic seal and brief descriptions from his contemporaries. In commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the death of Vytautas the Great, the Order of Vytautas the Great with the Gold Chain was established in 1930 - the highest award of Lithuanian state (the badge of the order was designed by an artist Jonas Juozas Burba (1907-1952)). The theme of Vytautas the Great left a deep mark on the design of the money of the restored state. As early as October 2,1922, a 100 litas banknote was issued by the A. Haase printing house in Prague on the basis of the design created by an artist Adomas Galdikas (1879-1979); it featured a highly artistic portrait of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas.In preparation for the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the ruler’s death, the first commemorative banknotes were issued at the printing house "Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co" in Great Britain, on the basis of the designs created by Adomas Galdikas (1893-1969); a 5 litas banknote of 1929 with a portrait of the ruler on one side and the oath of young Vytautas at the stonework of the burning Kaunas Castle (in accordance with the 1901 painting by Jan Styka (1858-1925)). A 20 litas banknote with a portrait of Vytautas the Great and the Kaunas Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (or the Church of Vytautas the Great) on the obverse, and a view of Klaipeda port and the Statue of Liberty (created by the sculptor Juozas Zikaras (1881-1944)) on the reverse, was issued in 1930. The banknote has six digits; its main colours are green, light brown, and yellow. Both banknotes feature the same portrait of Vytautas the Great. In 1936, the Spindulys joint-stock company "Pinigq Kalykla" (Eng. Money Mint) was established in Kaunas, where a silver 10 litas circulation coin depicting a portrait of Vytautas was minted in accordance with the design created by J. Zikaras. This portrait has become canonical not only in the visual arts but in the consciousness of the nation as well. Nowadays, this is how most people imagine the Great Ruler. After the restoration of Independent Lithuania on 11 March 1990, a tender was announced for the creation of paper money.The author of the 2 litas banknote was an artist Liudvikas Pocius. His design style is close to the banknotes of interwar Lithuania. The obverse featured a portrait of Vytautas with long hair and the mitre of the Grand Duke. On the reverse, there were depictions of the Trakai Island Castle and the majestic seal of Vytautas the Great. However, the author of the 2 litas banknotes that were issued was an artist named Giedrius Jonaitis. Only the Trakai Island Castle remained on the banknote. In addition to circulation coins, an opportunity emerged to mint commemorative coins significant for the history of Lithuania and ones that were of interest to the world numismatic market. One of the ideas consisted of creating a series of coins dedicated to the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The series of medals of the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, created by a famous emigrant sculptor Vytautas Kaśuba (1915-1997), were decided to be used for coin iconography. The medals of this series were donated to the Trakai History Museum and are currently exhibited in the Trakai Island Castle. During 1996-2000, a series of six coins titled. [From the publication]