Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1 Litas 1999, KM# 117, Lithuania, 10th Anniversary of the Baltic Way
  • 1 Litas 1999, KM# 117, Lithuania, 10th Anniversary of the Baltic Way
Description

The Baltic Way or Baltic Chain was a peaceful political demonstration that occurred on 23 August 1989. Approximately two million people joined their hands to form a human chain spanning 675.5 kilometres (419.7 mi) across the three Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which were considered at the time to be constituent republics of the Soviet Union.

The demonstration originated in "Black Ribbon Day" protests held in the western cities in the 1980s. It marked the 50th anniversary of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. The pact and its secret protocols divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence and led to the occupation of the Baltic states in 1940. The event was organised by Baltic pro-independence movements: Rahvarinne of Estonia, the Tautas fronte of Latvia, and Sąjūdis of Lithuania. The protest was designed to draw global attention by demonstrating a popular desire for independence for each of the entities. It also illustrated solidarity among the three nations. It has been described as an effective publicity campaign, and an emotionally captivating and visually stunning scene. The event presented an opportunity for the Baltic activists to publicise the Soviet rule and position the question of Baltic independence not only as a political matter, but also as a moral issue. The Soviet authorities responded to the event with intense rhetoric, but failed to take any constructive actions that could bridge the widening gap between the Baltic republics and the rest of the Soviet Union. Within seven months of the protest, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare independence.

After the Fall of Communism, 23 August has become an official remembrance day both in the Baltic countries, in the European Union and in other countries, known as the Black Ribbon Day or as the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism.

Engraver: Antanas Žukauskas

Obverse

National arms on shield within shaded circle divide date, country name and date below.

The coat of arms of Lithuania, consisting of an armour-clad knight on horseback holding a sword and shield, is also known as Vytis. It is one of very few containing symbolism adopted from ducal portrait seals rather than from coats of arms of dynasties, which is the case for most European countries.

The knight on horseback without a specific name was mentioned in the Tobolsk Chronicle as a symbol of Narimantas. The charging knight is depicted on the seal of Grand Duke of Lithuania, Algirdas, dated 1366. The earliest coins featuring the knight come also from the last quarter of the 14th century; the other side of these coins depicts Columns of Gediminas. In the 14th century, the knight was featured on a heraldic shield. At the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, the major victory of the united Polish–Lithuanian army against the Teutonic Order, thirty Lithuanian regiments out of the total forty were flying the "charging knight" banner.

LIETUVA
19 99
1 LITAS

Reverse

Design of six clasped hands with three oak leaves above encircled by text, representing the human chain formed during the protest between the three countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, surrounded by the inscriptions "10 Years For The Baltic Way" above and "Lithuania * Latvia * Estonia" below.

BALTIJOS KELIUI-10
LIETUVA * LATVIJA * ESTIJA

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Cupronickel
Weight 6.25 g
Diameter 22.3 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Lithuanian Mint (LMK)

Related coins

EuroBasket 2011

Cupronickel, 6.25 g, ⌀ 22.3 mm