50 centu 1997
This coin is a Lithuanian 50 cent coin from 1997, from a time when Lithuania was just building its new identity after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It may seem like a trifle, but when you look at it, you can see the pride of a young country. On one side, there is a large number 50, inscriptions in Lithuanian, and a geometric pattern on the edge, reminiscent of traditional folk motifs, such as those seen on Lithuanian fabrics or wooden sculptures. On the other side is a knight on horseback – Vytis, or Pogoń, the national symbol of Lithuania, which dates back to the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The year 1997 stamped at the bottom is a reminder of those first years of independence, when the economy was difficult, people earned little, but their hearts were filled with a sense of freedom and a fresh start. The coin is made of brass, which gives it a characteristic yellowish color, and its surface becomes covered with a light patina over time, which adds to its charm and shows how long it has been in circulation. It is warm and pleasant to the touch, and in the sun it can sparkle so much that it is hard to believe that it is just an ordinary 50 cents that someone once received as change in a store.
For Lithuanians, this coin is not only money, but also a symbol of that turning point when the country took its first independent steps after years of Soviet influence. At that time, the litas and its smaller units, i.e. cents, were an expression of independence, something that distinguished Lithuania from its neighbours. Interestingly, the design of this series of coins was created with great attention to tradition and simplicity, so that every citizen could easily recognise their national symbols. The designs were created by sculptor Antanas Žukauskas, and the entire series of coins was minted at the Lithuanian Mint, which was modernised after independence to become independent of foreign suppliers. In the 1990s, Lithuania experienced enormous economic difficulties, inflation and export problems, but despite this, there was a lot of optimism among the people. At that time, 50 centas really mattered, because you could buy a small roll, matches or a newspaper for that amount. Today, when the euro has long replaced the litas, this coin is just a memory of that era, but it still carries the spirit of independence.
When you hold this coin in your hand, you feel something more than just metal. It is a reminder of a country that stubbornly pursued its own path, freedom and the desire to build something of its own from scratch. It may not be of great financial value to a collector, but it has enormous symbolic value. It is a piece of history recorded in its simplest form, which ordinary people handled every day. Perhaps someone once hid it in their pocket while travelling by bus through Vilnius, perhaps it fell out of someone's wallet on the road, or perhaps it lay in a drawer for years as a souvenir of a time when everything was new and uncertain. Today, such coins are increasingly rare in circulation, but when you come across one, it is difficult not to stop for a moment and think about how quickly the world is changing. One small 50 cent coin from 1997 can tell you more about history than many books.
