Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 50 Centu 1991, KM# 90, Lithuania
  • 50 Centu 1991, KM# 90, Lithuania
Description

Engraver: Petras Garška

Obverse

Depicts Vytis (symbol of the coat-of-arms, old version: the horse's tail looks down instead of up, the knight is leaning forward), 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
1991

Reverse

Denomination.

50
CENTŲ

Edge

50 Centu

KM# 90 Schön# 20
Characteristics
Material Bronze
Weight 3.03 g
Diameter 21 mm
Thickness 1.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Lithuanian Mint (LMK)

Related coins

Nickel Brass, 6 g, ⌀ 23 mm