Banknotes and Coins
The currency unit of the Republic of Lithuania, the litas, is made up of 100 centas. Cash is available in the form of litas banknotes and coins and centas coins.
The Bank issues the litas into circulation and withdraws it from circulation, establishes currency denominations, the design, distinguishing, security and acceptability features, organises the printing of litas banknotes, minting of litas and centas coins, their transportation and storage, establishes the procedures for the withdrawal of worn and damaged Lithuanian currency units from circulation, their replacement and destruction, forms banknote and coin reserves and performs expert examination of litas banknotes and coins and centas coins.
Video about Lithuanian currency
On 31 March 2013, the number of litas banknotes of various denominations in circulation totalled to more than 91.0 million (their value was LTL 11,264 million, they weighed around 91 tons), whereas the number of circulation coins of various denominations made up more than 1,111 million (their value was LTL 244 million, they weighed around 2,260 tons).
On 31 March 2013, 100 litas and 200 litas banknotes made up the largest share of all banknotes in circulation (respectively, 22% and 37%), whereas 1 centas and 2 centas coins made up the largest share of all coins in circulation (respectively, 39% and 21%).
The average quantity of litas and centas coins per capita in Lithuania increased over the year by 6.5 per cent to 370 coins, of which, 145 coins were 1 centas coins.
On 31 March 2013, 1, 2 and 5 litas coins accounted for three fourths (76%) of the total value of circulation coins in circulation. Over the year, the share of the value of 5 litas coins increased by 1.5 percentage point and the share of 1 and 2 litas coins remained basically unchanged.
Litas banknotes in circulation were printed by printing houses well-known all over Europe. The most advanced security features were used to ensure security of litas banknotes (multicolour printing, holograms, optically variable inks, glossy stripes, etc.). Litas and centas circulation coins are struck by Vilnius-located UAB Lietuvos Monetu Kalykla (Lithuanian Mint) owned and operated by the Bank of Lithuania. Collector (commemorative) coins issued by the Bank of Lithuania are minted there too.
