The Museum has two main expositions: “Trade
Relations of the Baltic Tribes in the 1st-13th Centuries
and the Currency of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the
14th-18th Centuries” and “Development of Banking in Lithuania. History of the Bank of Lithuania”.
They present the monetary relations of the inhabitants
of the territory of Lithuania, the trade relations in
the early centuries A.D., the history of Lithuanian currency
from the appearance of the first coins in late 14th century
to the present, the history and development of the banks
of Lithuania.
Trade
Relations of the Baltic Tribes in the 1st-13th Centuries
and the Currency of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the
14th-18th Centuries
The exposition starts with the period before
the appearance of the first Lithuanian coins: the exhibits
include raw amber that was the main commodity of the Baltic
tribes during the early centuries AD in their trade with
other lands, currency of the Roman Empire found during
the archaeological excavations of burials, fortress hills
and early settlements in the territory of Lithuania.
Other exhibits are silver alloys of the
12th-14th centuries, Lithuanian currency from the emergence
of the first coins in late 14th century to the 18th century.
Here one can see three kinds of the first Lithuanian coins
with Gediminaičiř stulpai (Gediminas’ Columns, a symbol
of Grand Duke Gediminas) and a spear head, a double cross
on a shield and Vytis (a mounted knight), and Gediminas’
Columns and Vytis. Currencies of neighbouring countries
is also represented: brackteates of the Teutonic Order,
shillings and ferdings of the Livonian Order, Prague groats,
etc.
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The exposition presents a wide range of Lithuanian coins
minted during the reign of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
Alexander (1492-1506), Sigismund the Old (1506-1544/1548),
Sigismund Augustus (1544/1548-1572), Stephan Bathory (1576-1586),
Sigismund Vasa (1587-1632) and John Casimir (1648-1668):
silver halfdenarii, denarii, two-denarii, halfgroats,
groats, threehalfgroats, twogroats, threegroats, fourgroats,
sixgroats, eighteengroats (ortas), as well as billon and
copper shillings and gold coins.
Visitors can also see authentic maps, engravings, plans,
books and other exhibits put on show illustrating the
history of currency production and its spread in Lithuania.
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Development of Banking in Lithuania. History of the Bank of Lithuania
The second exposition room presents authentic
exhibits related to the Bank of Lithuania that started
in 1922 and commercial banks: furniture, sign boards, documents, publications,
calculators and other items. The exhibition also contains
photographs of Professor Vladas Jurgutis (1885-1966),
the first Governor of the Bank of Lithuania, other governors,
members of the council and board of the Bank of Lithuania
and branch directors. Visitors can also get acquainted
with the history of the buildings of the Bank of Lithuania.
The exposition presents the history of Lithuanian
currency after the restoration of the Lithuanian state
in 1918. The exhibits include German, Russian, Polish
money and currency units issued by other countries and
military formations and used in Lithuania prior to the
introduction of the Litas in 1922, all Litas and centas
issues started during the period between two World Wars,
and specimens of Lithuanian banknotes and coins that were
never issued.
Further on, the exhibition presents the history
of the development and production of the national currency
after the reestablishment of Lithuania’s independence
in 1990, including artistic sketches, designs, models,
stamps, printing plates, modern banknotes, circulation
and commemorative coins.
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