This week's trivia article allows you to examine the 2nd Millennium coins minted in 2000 by, and for, the Baltic States which includes Belarus, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. BELARUS Belarus minted a proof 31.9mm Copper-nickel Ruble in the year 2000. The obverse of the 2000 Ruble bears the National Arms in the center of the coin with the date immediately below the National Arms within that center space, I have no photo of a 2000 dated coin, but here is a photo of a 1998 Ruble so you can see the design of the National Arms. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...Belarus km21 1 Rouble (1998) Olympic Hurdlers The reverse of our one year type 2000 Ruble bears a church on it instead of two Olympic Hurdlers. Now, I want to inform you, Belaurus created two Commemorative Rubles with the subject "The Millenium" in 1999. One, a Copper-nickel coin has the same obverse with the National Arms on it, but the reverse bears the tribute to the year 2000 and a view of Bethlehem. Both coins were struck in proof only. The other one is , also, a Copper-nickel coin, reverse bears three churches on it. Two Silver Proof 20 Roubles were minted in 2000. One (38.5mm, 1.0067 oz. ASW) bears the National Arms on the obverse and the reverse is adorned with an image of the Sinkovichi Church. The other (38.5mm, 0.9343 oz. ASW) bears the National Arms on the obverse and a Discus Thrower on the reverse. This one is a one-year type coin. Those are the only coins minted in 2000 whose subject was.is the "Millennium." ESTONIA There was only one coin minted by Estonia in the 2nd Millennium Year 2000, That coin is a Brass Kroon, a type (composition) first struck in 1998. The design (including the denomination on the reverse) was first struck in '92 of which only 20,000 were minted and became part of a 5-piece mint set. The '92 mint set was the only mint set ever produced by Estonia. Here's the 2000: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...64-35&desc=Estonia km35 1 Kroon (1998+) brass LATVIA Brass Plated Steel Two Santimi This coin was first minted in 1992 and was not produced again until 2000: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img/105-21&desc=Latvia km21 2 Santimi (1992) In 2000 three new one year type coins were produced in Proof only and one of those coins is this 38.6mm Silver (0.9359 oz, ASW) Commemorative honoring UNICEF: Lats Coin (1) http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=nmc2/105-48&desc=Latvia km48 1 Lats (2000) Coin 2 (no photo) is the same size and composition, but it is a commemorative honoring the Hanseatic City of Veritspils. Obverse features the City Arms sharing space with the denomination and the reverse bears a building and Ship. Coin 3 (no photo) is of the same composition, but honors "Earth - Roots" and features a mythological rendition of Roots. The Reverse features a landscape with the denomination placed in an exerge at 6:00 o'clock. LITHUANIA: Starting in 1997 the design (Lithuanian Knight), which was first stamped on the obverses of Lithuania's early (1940) standard coinage, returned by being struck on a Bronze planchet to create a new "reform coin" for the Republic of Lithuania to successfully usher in a new coin denomination called Ten Centu which was struck on a 16mm brass planchet weighing 2g creating a new type for the denomination. It was then minted in '98, '99' and 2000. 2000 was the first time a 10 Centu was struck as both a circulation coin and in Proof for coin collectors. Here's a photo of the 1998 coin: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri.../110-106&desc=Lithuania km106 10 Centu (1997+) Every thing written above applies to the 20 Centu including business strikes and proofs. The difference is the 20 Centu is 20mm and weighs 4.8g. Here's the 1997 20 Centu: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri.../110-107&desc=Lithuania km107 20 Centu (1997+) Once, again, the data concerning the 10 and 20 Centus applies to the 50 Centu except this coins weighs 6g. Here's a photo: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri.../110-108&desc=Lithuania km108 50 Centu (1997+) A secret, until now, is revealed: All the Centu coins have a milled edge. This next coin has a reeded edge and the denomination was first struck in 1991 in Copper-nickel as a circulation coin. It is called Litas In 1997 two different Litas were struck. Both as proof only. One in Copper-nickel (200,000 were minted) This one honors the 75th Anniversary of the Bank of Lithuania with a knight upon a rearing steed above the denomination adorning the obverse and Vladis Jurgutis centered on the reverse. Here's a photo: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...ania km109 1 Litas (1997) 75 Yrs Central Bank I couldn't find a photo of the 2nd coin (a mere 1,500 were struck), but it was struck in gold (0.25 oz. AGW) and has the exact same design (heads and tails) as the Copper-nickel coin pictured previously. Here's a photo of the 1999 Litas which was also minted in '98 and 2000. In 2000 Lithuania struck both circulation and proof coins (5,000 proofs). http://worldcoingallery.com/countri.../110-1l98&desc=Lithuania km111 1 Litas (1998+) A Bi-metallic (brass center in copper-nickel ring) Two Litai was struck in '98 and '99 as circulation coins. In 2000 5,000 proofs were minted. Here's a photo of a 1999 dated 2 Litai: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri.../110-2l98&desc=Lithuania km112 2 Litai (1998+) Another Bi-metallic coin was struck in the years '90, '99 and 2000 with 2000 being the only year 5,000 proofs were struck besides the business strike coins. Here's a photo of a Five Litai http://worldcoingallery.com/countri.../110-5l98&desc=Lithuania km113 5 Litai (1998+) During 2000 five Crown-size Silver commemoratives were struck in a denomination of 50 Litu (no photos available) The 1st commemorative weighs 28.28g and is 38.1mm. ASW is 0.841 oz. It's a tribute to "350th Anniversary - The Great Art of Artillery Book." Featured on the obverse is Luthuania's National Arms placed in a frame, while trhe reverse bears an old rocket design. Edge bears the text "ARS MAGMA ARTILLERIAE * MDCL" . 2000 proofs were struck. The 2nd commemorative weighs 23.30g and is 34mm. ASW is 0.6929 oz. The coin honors Grand Duke Vitautas. The obverse bears the National Arms above four shields while a crowned portrait of the Duke holding a sword is featured on the reverse. Edge lettering reads, "IS PRARITIES TAVO SUNUS TESTAPRYBE SEMI." 2,500 proofs were minted. The 3rd coin weighs 28.28g, is 38.6mm, has an ASW of .0841 oz, and commemorates "10th Anniversary of Independence." Obverse bears a large Republic of Lithuania National Arms and the Statue of Independence adorns the reverse. 3,000 proofs were struck. The 4th coin weighs 28,28g, is 38.61mm, contains .0841 oz ASW, and honors the XXVII Summer Olympic Games. The National Arms is centered on the obverse while reverse features a man throwing a discus, an Olympic design and the text for Sydney (SIDNEJUS). Edge lettering reads, "NUGALI STIPRUS DVASIA IR KUNU." 4,000 proofs struck. The 5th, and last, 50 Litu weighs 28.28g, spans 38.61mm, has .0841 oz.ASW and is the only Lithuanian coin referring to the "MILLENNIUM." The National Arms sits above the denomination on the obverse, a radiant Cross fills the entire reverse and edge lettering proclaims, "SALVE NOVUM MILLENNIUM." 3,000 proofs were produced. The final Lithuanian coin I am bringing your attention to is a Gold (0.2501 oz. AGW) 100 Litu which honors Grand Duke Vytautas with the obverse bearing the National Arms and the reverse featuring a crowned portrait and a sword hilt. Edge lettering reads, "IS PRAEITIES TAVO SUNUS TE STIPRYBE SEMIA." 2000 proofs were minted. Did you enjoy this trivial article? Any addendums or comments? Clinker
another cool post Clinker!!! Alot of cool looking coins in this group! Certainly interesting to see what countries such as these can come up with!
