BC. Up to the 13th century, the COINS DEDICATED TO buildings were mostly wooden, later THE PALACE OF THE RULERS replaced by stone ones. It is believed that OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF LITHUANIA the first and the only king of Lithuania Mindaugas might have had his residence in the castles of Vilnius in the mid-13th century. Officially, the capital of Lithuania was relocated to Vilnius by Grand Duke Gediminas in 1323. The earliest buildings, with their stone The ensemble of Vilnius Castles and walls bound in Pre-gothic, or the so- celebrations. At this time the rulers’ the architect Bartolomeo Berrecci, who the Palace of the Rulers of the Grand called Baltic, way discovered on the site residence in Vilnius was presumably was then in charge of the reconstruction Duchy of Lithuania in the centre of of the Lower Castle, primarily in the reconstructed, although it is not certain of Wawel Castle (Cracow) and the the city represent the principal grounds of the Palace of the Rulers and which one it was – the Upper or the construction of the Sigismund Chapel Denomination 500 litas Gold Au 999.9 historical residence of the Grand the Cathedral, are normally attributed Lower Castle. The chronology of in Cracow Cathedral the construction Quality proof Dukes of the ruling Jagiellonian, to the time when these two rulers were masonry, stylistic elements and the of the Renaissance residence was further Diameter of the circle circumscribed around the Gediminian and Vasa dynasties of in power. Subsequent rulers of impressive size of the grand hall on the continued by the son of Sigismund the regular dodecagon coin 32.50 mm Lithuania, and symbolises the Lithuania – Algirdas and his son Jogaila, first floor imply that this was exactly Old and Bona Sforca – the last Weight 31.10 g sovereignty and prestige of the State. who later became King of Poland – also where Vytautas’ residence in Vilnius representative of the Gediminian– Plain edge The restored Palace of the Rulers will left their trace in the enlargement of could have been. Jagiellonian dynasty on Lithuanian and Mintage 1,000 pcs maintain the continuity of the Vilnius residency. Research finds in the A number of hints in written sources Polish thrones – Sigismund Augustus tradition of the State of Lithuania and recent decades imply that a stone-wall and abundant finds related to the period (1548–1572). As early as in 1529 he support the status of Vilnius as a castle with towers was situated at the in question confirm that Grand Duke was declared Grand Duke of Lithuania, historical centuries-old capital and location of the Palace of the Rulers on Alexander of Lithuania (reigned from while from 1544 he actually ruled over important political and cultural centre the site of the Lower Castle as early as 1492, d. 1506), who became King of Lithuania by appointment of his father, of Central and Eastern Europe. in the Pre-gothic and early Gothic Poland in 1501, relocated his residence for the most part residing in Vilnius Archaeological research and finds period. Remaining stone foundations from the Upper Castle to the Lower together with his mother. In mid-16th confirm that the site of Vilnius Castles, suggest that the castle was reconstructed Castle and on the site of the former century reconstruction works of the both the Upper and the Lower, was and enlarged several times in the 13th castle built a sumptuous palace. After Palace of the Rulers were steered by st th Denomination 1 litas already settled in the 1 millennium and 15 centuries. It is still uncertain disastrous fires swept over Vilnius at the Italian artists, mostly coming from Alloy of copper and nickel (Cu 75, Ni 25) as to where the residence of Grand beginning of the 16th century, the Tuscany, the cradle of the Renaissance. Diameter 22.30 mm Duke Vytautas of Lithuania – who had Gothic palace of Alexander was These included Bernardino de Gianotis Weight 6.25 g a preference for Trakai – was, although reconstructed and enlarged by Grand Zanobi, Giovani Cini da Siena, Edge reeded at intervals a message of 1413 indicates that he Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Giovanni Maria Mosca Padovano, Mintage 1,000,000 pcs certainly used to stay in the Lower Sigismund the Old (1506–1548) and Filippo Bartolomeo da Fiesole, etc., who Castle too. While at the peak of his his wife Bona Sforca, who in turn were assisted by local masters as well as power in the 15th century, Vytautas contributed to the spreading of culture those from other countries of Central sought for the royal crown and rebuilt and art of Italian Renaissance in both Europe. Designed by Giedrius Paulauskis the Vilnius Cathedral, which had been Lithuania and Poland. Many think that As the ruler of Lithuania, Poland and Issued 2005 damaged by fire, for the coronation the reconstruction plan was prepared by Transylvania Stephen Bathory came over to Lithuania, he favoured Hrodna Gucevièius, always combined residence of the Grand Dukes of crowning day) of Lithuania. On that for his residence. After the fire of 1610, shapes and sizes of the two Lithuania to the ground. After particular day the celebrations to LITHUANIAN repairs and redecoration of the Palace buildings. abandoning the Russian fortress in the commemorate a thousand-year of the Rulers was undertaken by The splendour of the Palace of 19th century, the site of the Palace was anniversary when the name of COLLECTORS Sigismund Vasa (1587–1632), King of the Rulers of the Grand Duchy of levelled out, planted over and Lithuania was mentioned for the first Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, Lithuania stayed at its peak from converted into a park. For a long time time, and the opening of the restored heir to the royal throne of Sweden. The the 16th century to the first half of the magnificent palace, which had once Palace of the Rulers are to become the COINS renovation – this time in early Baroque the 17th century, i.e. during the stood there, was kept alive solely in the core of both the commemorative style – of the Palace of the Rulers was Renaissance and early Baroque paintings of the past. celebrations and the “Vilnius – The Palace of the Rulers of the carried out in parallel with the epoch. The Palace had an immense The grounds of the Palace of the European Capital of Culture 2009” Grand Duchy of Lithuania is a construction of the mausoleum chapel collection of works of art and Rulers waited for professional programme. of Prince Casimir (d. 1484, canonised jewellery famous all over Europe, investigation and public attention for The restored Palace of the Rulers will symbol of Lithuania’s sovereignty, 1602) next to the Cathedral. This as well as abundant collections of nearly two hundred years. Complex arranges exhibitions, and helps to become a multifunctional historical witness to the history of the nation chapel also became a chapel of the arms, armour, hunting trophies, investigations that prompted acquire authentic works of art and centre of culture and will engage in and the state, centre of political, renovated Palace of the Rulers, with and books. The Palace was a place 17th century and in the 18th century, the deliberations about the restoration of other valuables for the interiors of the wide-ranging activities covering administrative and diplomatic which the chapel and the Cathedral for staging operas, hosting issue of rebuilding the Palace – a symbol the Palace started as late as in 1987. restored Palace. The Lithuanian Art representation, museums, education, relations, cultural and artistic were linked by a gallery. It is believed diplomatic receptions, and settling of the State and its sovereignty, and a At that time, the idea of the restoration Museum is in charge of the Palace of cultural and tourist information. This that in the first half of the 17th century political and international issues residence of the Grand Duke of of the Palace received wide support, the Rulers interior and exposition will be an independent and modern exchange of the entire Central and the renovation of the Palace of the urgent to Lithuania and Poland as Lithuania – was repeatedly addressed, since many associated it with the re- programmes, it also arranges national institution fostering and East European region Rulers and the construction of the well as to the entire Europe. The as did the obligation of the ruler of the established statehood, recovered justice exhibitions dedicated to the Palace of promoting culture, applying traditional Chapel of St Casimir were guided by residence of the ruler became the Commonwealth of Poland and and restoration of a historical symbol the Rulers. The Vilnius Castle methods as well as those tested by the King’s architects Matteo Castello centre of dissemination of the latest Lithuania to reside in Vilnius every so important to national, civic and state Directorate acts as the contractor for international practice and advanced and Constante Tencalla, former cultural and artistic initiatives, three years. Unfortunately, the empty awareness, and consolidation. all restoration works. technologies that have been employed apprentices of famous Italian architects ideas and fashion trends all over the treasury of the crumbling state, the Professionals carrying out the Palace The completion of the restoration by institutions established in historical Carlo Maderno and Domenico country. domestic and international situation restoration project have been actively and sumptuous furnishing, and the residences of Europe. The Palace is Fontana. At all times the Palace of the The Palace of the Rulers was aggravated with objective supported by the Palace of the Rulers grand opening of the Palace of the envisaged to become the gates of Rulers and the Cathedral, up to the badly destroyed by the unsuccessful complications, and unfavourable Public Foundation. Apart from raising Rulers of the Grand Duchy of tourism to Lithuania and its capital demolition of the Palace at the turn of war of Poland and Lithuania with opinion of the rulers were the reasons money for the restoration of the Palace Lithuania have been scheduled for 6 Vilnius. the 18th century, formed a harmonious Moscow, rebel Cossacks of the why the Palace in Vilnius was never among the Lithuanian public and the July 2009, the State Day (Mindaugas’ Dr Vydas Dolinskas architectural ensemble. Different Ukraine, and Sweden. In 1655, the used again as a residence of Grand émigré community, the Foundation architects, including Laurynas Muscovite and Cossack army Dukes of Lithuania from the middle of advocates the restoration policy, occupied Vilnius, the Castles and the 17th century. In the 18th century, supports publications about the Palace the Palace of the Rulers, where they Vilnius citizens were allowed to settle and restoration of archaeological finds, Information is available at the Bank of Lithuania stayed until 1661. All valuables still in the ruins of the Palace, eventually it Tel. +370 ~ 5 268 03 16, fax +370 ~ 5 268 03 14, www.lb.lt remaining in the Palace were was planned to move public plundered and taken away to administration institutions into the Russia, and the Palace itself was left place. At the turn of the 18th century, The coin was minted at the state enterprise Lithuanian Mint devastated and wrecked. The after the incorporation of the Grand www.lithuanian-mint.lt Palace stood in disrepair for about Duchy of Lithuania into Russia, tsarist Lithuanian Collectors Coins 150 years. In the second half of the authorities encouraged razing of the © Lietuvos bankas, 2005. Published by the Bank of Lithuania, Gedimino pr. 6, LT-01103 Vilnius, Lithuania Printed by the UAB “Baltijos kopija”, Kareiviø g. 13 B, LT-09109 Vilnius, Lithuania