epoch as “Poletime” and to all nobles It was namely national revival that anything like during the Winter The Singing and the by ’s experience. Global of this epoch – as a dry branch of the has led to the 16th February 1918, War. So the Republic of Lithuania 11th March 1990 in world history democracy won a huge victory. For the nation. Actually, the descendents of when the State of Lithuania was re- ended its days sadly, and in the Second first time Lithuanian history became University Adomas Mickevičius established. It is difficult to overestimate World War epoch during the Soviet With the start of ’s a factor in world history. Let us just (Adam Mickiewicz) and Julijus Slovackis the significance of this event – the genocide and Nazi Holocaust Lithuania “” Lithuania began its way compare: in the 15th century, Vytautas (Juliusz Słowacki) not only have created Republic of Lithuania has created lost nearly one third of its population. towards restoration of Independence. It created an empire, but beyond the the great poetry of the time but a whole a culture with universal education, As a matter of fact, Lithuania’s honour was led this way by the Sajudis Reform cartographic majesty were empty spaces; field of ideas, referred to as Polish modern trends of art and literature, was defended in the longest “war Movement founded in the summer of the Grünwald Battle stopped the Messianism. They themselves were later with the architecture of gymnasia or after war” – an armed partisan war 1988, and the actions of condemnation march of the West eastwards, yet this named prophets of the Polish nation, even laboratories arousing admiration with the USSR in 1945–1953. Today of the Pact of 23 August 1939 between was a regional, not a world factor. The and Vilnius – the Polish capital of until this day. Without the ideological it is considered Lithuania’s greatest Stalin and Hitler became the central first written constitution in Europe, culture of the first half of the 19th heritage of Lithuania’s interwar culture contribution to Europe’s history of the part of political rhetoric and practice. created in the late 18th century, was a century. Today we believe that the it is difficult to imagine, how Lithuania 20th century. We showed miracles of These include the great meeting of culmination in the ancient history of great creators of Vilnius of this would have survived through the epoch resistance, but, again, we were all alone. 1988 in Vilnius, the in 1989, Poland and Lithuania, however even epoch belong not only to of Soviet . Geopolitically, While some countries did not recognize which linked by a live the The 13th January Remembrance Medal by P. Repšys. then Lithuania needed a great deal Signatories to the Act of the 16th February 1918 The front side Polish culture. Whatever in the first half of the 20th century Lithuania’s annexation by the USSR, capitals of the Baltic States, Vilnius, of effort to step out from Poland’s the attitude, it is clear that Lithuania was nothing this was not an obstacle to depicting and Tallinn, thus demonstrating a powerful yet no less significant was shadow – which happened on 20 The 11th March 1990 – the peak of symbol. In Charlottenburg Park Berlin the Lithuanian history but a granule in the Lithuania on maps in the same red strive for freedom. And Lithuania did it meant – namely Lithuania was the October 1791. While together with Lithuania’s millennium? there is an obelisk dedicated to the of the first half of the niche of empires fallen colour. This was not recognised either on the 11th March 1990. All this process first to defy yet another echelon of Poland we were part of the West, yet 11th March, designed by the Bosnian 19th century is rather an yet shortly to recover. by the Lithuanian émigré community today is named : and empires, and the we were not at the rear of the latter: Before you is a coin with the descendent Braco Dimitrijevic. This echo of the history of the While we were part of the or the dissidents in Lithuania itself. resisting peacefully on the 13th January first to break away from the citadel of bastions of democracy were far away impressed date of the re-establishment would be just commonplace were it Grand . western world, but with Perhaps only the Kaunas events of 1972 1991 Soviet military aggression and . The axis of this process and we were an island in the sea of of independence of Lithuania – the 11th not for the fact that the obelisk was This does not apply to sad neutrality between the were a clearer expression of striving for defending the Parliament, the people was March 11th. Thus this day became . The Polish and Lithuanian March 1990. It is a third coin dedicated erected in 1979 and dedicated to a day ’ national and Germany, freedom, but that required the sacrifice were singing even as tanks attacked. the beginning of a chain reaction State was divided between Prussia and to the millennium of Lithuania. The “that will probably be significant for revival in the second without true friends and allies: of . Today, this Revolution is comparable which eventually destroyed the Soviet Austria that were part of the western first one was dedicated to the year world history”. What is it – a magic half of the 19th century potential union with Poland with the Budapest Autumn 1956 and Union and, in the opinion of Edvardas world, and Russia. 1009 – the first mention of the name of coincidence or a trick? And now let us and to its patriarchs was ruined by the conflict Recalling the exile of 1941 the 1968. Lithuania, Gudavičius, was not a routine brick Lithuania; the second one – to the old have a serious look at the last centuries Simonas Daukantas, Jonas on Vilnius and the loss of as the leader among the Baltic States, in the assembly of velvet 1990 – the beginning of Lithuania’s and the longest period of statehood – of Lithuania’s millennium. Basanavičius and Vincas the historical capital, and this became a catalyst of the europeisation but its central pillar. This has been rise into its new millennium the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL). Kudirka, the bard of national conflict, in its turn, deprived process in the . It took recognised not only by historians. Thus we have a triptych with a stylish Lithuania’s highs and lows revival Maironis and the most of the possibilities to form a union the leadership because of the most Commemorating the 10th anniversary And still the year 1990 is not only combination of the date numbers: in the 19th–20th c.c. outstanding Lithuanian with other Baltic countries. The ardent manifestations of resistance in of Lithuania’s independence in 2000, a significant for Lithuania’s role and 1009, GDL, 1990. Can’t we, however, creator of the time Mikalojus Pact between Stalin and Hitler of this country, which resulted from the US congressional resolution read that image in the world, but for itself as take it as a numerological trick if we are In the 19th century, Lithuania was Konstantinas Čiurlionis – 23 August 1939 not only paved ways historic path covered by the Lithuanian “the 11th March 1990 declaration on well. On seeing a map of the GDL we aware that Lithuanian history of the within the Russian Empire. Jointly all of them have become for the Second World War, but nation. The Baltics’ Singing Revolution the full sovereignty and re-establishment as if crouch at the thought, how small modern times has had a whole series of with Poland, we resisted it by the giants of the modern partitioned Eastern Europe as was impossible without the historic of independence of the Republic of we are today; however in the epoch of peaks in the fights for freedom? Does uprisings of 1830–1831 and 1863. Lithuanian identity. well. This is what determined role of Poland’s “Solidarity”, which Lithuania destroyed the former Soviet the GDL’s largest expansion, Lithuania the year 1990, made that outstanding, They were led by nobility which mainly Lithuania’s destiny. Being began eroding the fundamentals of Union”. The August 1991 revolution owned just a tiny shore of the Baltic not obscure them? As a matter of fact, spoke Polish; therefore even today alone, in 1940 Lithuania the communist camp. For Lithuania, in Russia, which changed the balance Sea without Klaipėda. And today, for the 11th March has already become a Lithuanians sometimes refer to the Laisvės statula Kaune. did not demonstrate however, a role probably not that of global powers, was also guided the first time in history, both Vilnius Skulptorius J. Zikaras but then, could we dream of our capital’s to Europe, and became a member of 100 LITAS COIN FROM THE SERIES DEDICATED TO this high appreciation as little as 20 the Euro–Atlantic community. New THE MILLENNIUM OF THE MENTION OF THE NAME OF LITHUANIA Lithuanian years ago? This, too, is for the first time opportunities and new challenges – this Gold Au 999.9 in our millennium history. is what Lithuania’s millennium makes Quality proof Collectors All this enables raising a question: to contemplate. Contemplate our life in Diameter 22.30 mm shouldn’t namely the year 1990 be the centuries to come. Weight 7.78 g Coins considered the beginning of Lithuania’s In the coin, we see a Vytis of The words on the edge of the coin: LIETUVOS VARDO TÛKSTANTMETIS second millennium? Historians are calligraphic stylistics. By this, it is as if (Millennium of the name of Lithuania) aware of the long centuries, e.g. the 19th stated: this coin is not a monument for Designed by Bronius Leonavičius and Giedrius Paulauskis century is very often dated 1789–1914. the past, but preparation for drawing Mintage 10,000 pcs MIX–MMIX Let Lithuania’s first millennium be and writing. Lithuania is opening a Issue 2009 shorter, after all, the country has new chapter of the book it has been Lietuvos tûkstantmetis • Millennium Lithuaniae Vilniaus miesto panorama. Nežinomas XVII a. dailininkas evolved to what it is now from 1990. For writing. Lithuania, the year 1990 is the beginning of a second millennium. Anyway, the Prof. dr. Alfredas Bumblauskas idea of Lithuania’s millennium provides a good chance for contemplating the Meeting in Vingis Park, 23 August 1988 turns of Lithuania’s destiny. For seeing and Klaipėda are part of the State of has been thinning in number, but not ups and downs, honours and shames, The Baltic Way, 23 August 1989 Lithuania. On his visit in Vilnius in because of hungers and plagues that heroes and traitors, what has been 2002 after Lithuania was invited to join had been part of Lithuania’s history created and what has fallen behind. the NATO alliance, the US President until the 19th century, not because of The idea of millennium originated in George Bush said: “Anyone who would such quality of life that we have never the 10th century in Christian Europe – chose Lithuania as the enemy has also had in our history, but because of that the epoch of Lithuania’s discoverer St made an enemy of the United States of quality being still higher in Europe, Bruno Bonifacius, when, waiting for America. In the face of aggression, you to which, having become a member of a new coming of the Christ, Lithuania will never have to fight alone”. Has any the in 2004, we are not only had to rejoice at what had been powerful country in the world ever been free to emigrate without restrictions. achieved, but also to consider what had an ally of Lithuania and have we ever It is only now that Lithuania is free to not been accomplished. Millenium is a had so many – almost thirty – allies? view its émigré community as part of it threshold at which the Last Judgement With the NATO membership in 2004, and, also, to evaluate the former huge is awaited. Europe’s subsequent history we became safest ever in our history. emigration waves which have given the secularized the idea, but did not abandon Should anyone have predicted to the world more than one big-name. It is the most important – we have not only Lithuanian participants in the Soviet only today that we are free to consider been contemplating the past, we have Vilnius, Cathedral Square, 28 August 1988 invasion to Afghanistan in 1978 the the heritage of Lithuania’s millennium been contemplating the present and presence of the Lithuanian army with its scattered across various countries. the future. Thus, Lithuania is made to Information is available at the Tel. +370 5 268 0316, fax +370 5 268 0314, www.lb.lt tricolour here after a few decades, that Furthermore, Lithuania’s Millennium do that for a single reason that namely someone would have been considered in 2009 was a plausible argument for in the epoch of its millennium – at the telling a stupid dream. Isn’t it a miracle? Vilnius becoming a European Capital turn of the 20th and 21st centuries – it The coin was minted at the UAB Lithuanian Mint, www.lithuanian-mint.lt Lithuanian Collectors Coins Today, the population of Lithuania of Culture. Be this just a declaration, restored its independence, came back © Lietuvos bankas, 2009 Photographs by R. Ginaitis, V. Gulevičius, Z. Kazënas, J. Polis ir V. Usinavičius. On the cover: M. K. Čiurlionio „Karaliø pasaka“ Published by the Bank of Lithuania. Gedimino pr. 6, LT-01103 Vilnius, Lithuania. Printed by the UAB “Baltijos kopija”, Kareiviø g. 13B, LT-09109 Vilnius, Lithuania