1936 ir 1938 m. laidų Lietuvos respublikos monetų kūrimo ir kaldinimo problematika

LTŠio straipsnio tikslas - išnagrinėti kelis mažai žinomus bei naujus faktus. Pirma, pateikti naujus, neskelbtus duomenis apie monetų kalyklos steigimą. Antra, išsiaiškinti 1936-1938 m. laidų Lietuvos Respublikos monetų modelių kūrimo ir spaudų gamybos raidą. Trečia, nurodyti, kokie yra oficialūs visų 1936-1939 m. kaldintų Lietuvos Respublikos monetų tiražai. Ketvirta, panagrinėti proginių, bandomųjų ir suvenyrinių - skirtų dovanoms - monetų kaldinimo problematiką. Taip pat šiuo straipsniu siekiama ištaisyti ankstesnėse publikacijose paskelbtą klaidingą informaciją ir netikslumus, kurie turi tendenciją kartotis. Rengiant straipsnį daugiausia remtasi archyviniais šaltiniais - Lietuvos centiniame valstybės archyve saugomomis Finansų ministerijos Pramonės ir prekybos departamento bylomis ir Lietuvos literatūros ir meno archyve (LLMA) saugomais J. Zikaro ir Lietuvos Respublikos finansų ministerijos susirašinėjimo dokumentais, atskleidžiančiais monetų modelių gaminimo detales. Straipsnį papildo svarbi informacija, užfiksuota tarpukario Lietuvos periodinėje spaudoje, kuri moksliniuose tyrimuose yra skelbiama pirmą kartą. [Iš straipsnio, p. 28]

ENThe article analyses the problems of coin design and minting in the 1936 and 1938 issues in the Republic ofLithuania based on archival data as well as periodicals ofthe interwar Lithuania. The establishment of a coin mint in Kaunas, in the premises of the company Spindulys, is first presented in more detail. The circumstances and the dates ofthe 1935-1937 coin models designed by the sculptor Juozas Zikaras and the production oftheir stamps are thoroughly discussed: when Zikaras presented the designed coin models to the Ministry Finance; when the coin models were transported to Brussels; and when the manufactured coin stamps were delivered from the Royal Mint ofBelgium. Precise issues of all the minted coins have first been determined on the basis of archival sources; their volumes are slightly bigger than indicated in literature or the related catalogues. Moreover, the article presents the quantities of defective coins, i.e., coins damaged during minting, as well as the estimated amounts of obtained blanks. The numbers of minted and defective coins are indicated in the tables.The article does not concentrate merely on the problems of circulating coins but also draws our attention to pattern as well as souvenir, i.e., intended as gifts, coins. The design of a pattern 2-litas coin bearing the portrait of President of the Republic of Lithuania Antanas Smetona was developed back in 1936, whereas the Ministry of Finance received the model from Zikaras only on 30 January 1937; however, the new model coins were minted neither in 1937, nor in 1938 or 1939. Initially, the coin issue was slowed down by the minting process of a commemorative 10-litas coin in 1938. Subsequently, the process must have been interrupted due to technical problems and internal policies. In 1938, the only golden 10-litas souvenir coin (not two, as it is sometimes indicated in catalogues) was minted and given as a gift to President Smetona. In 1937, fifty units ofsouvenir 5-litas coins were minted to be distributed as presents among the members ofthe Seimas. The coins were either gilded or minted with other stamps. All souvenir coins were presented in special boxes. [From the publication]