Lietuvos valiutos – lito gimimas
LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Lietuvos bankas; Lietuvos valiuta; Litas; Nepriklausoma Lietuvos valstybė; Numizmatika; Ostmarkė; Pinigai; Steigiamasis seimas; Bank of Lithuania; Constituent Seimas; Litas; Lithuanian bank; Lithuanian currency; Money; Numismatic; Ostmark; The Independent State of Lithuania.
ENThis article presents the history of the first Lithuanian currency Litas (temporary banknotes). It is closely connected with the proclamation of the Act of Reinstating Independence of Lithuania on 16 February, 1918, the end of the First World War and circulation of the occupational German currency in Lithuania, the Ostruble and the Ostmark. At that time Lithuania was impoverished by war and there were no economic premises to introduce its own currency, backed by gold or other national treasures. In 1918-1922 Lithuania was forced to use Ostrubles and Ostmarks – inflationary money issued especially for the use in Eastern areas under German occupation. During the third quarter of 1922, when the inflation became reinless, the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania decided to introduce immediately a temporary currency of the country. Following the proposition by Vaclovas Vaidotas, it was named Litas, and 1/100 part of it was named Centas. By urgent procedure 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents as well as 1 and 5 Lt banknotes were issued in Berlin, Otto Elsner Printing House and marked by the date 10 September, 1922. They were introduced into the circulation on 1 October, 1922 applying the exchange rate of 1 Lt=175 goldens (Ostmarks). 10 Lt were equated to 1 US dollar by law. In that case, 1 litas corresponded to the value of 0,150462 g pure gold. The article presents images of all the temporary litai and centai designed by artist Adomas Varnas. The banknotes were printed on the paper of poor quality, without any water marks. They were easily falsified and quick to wear out, that is why they were soon replaced by permanent, more colourful and more wearproof banknotes. These were printed in Andreas Haase Printing House in Prague and dated 16 November, 1922. [From the publication]
