The Kaunas Mint ( lt, Kauno monetų kalykla) was a Lithuanian

mint MiNT is Now TOS (MiNT) is a free software alternative operating system kernel for the Atari ST system and its successors. It is a multi-tasking alternative to TOS and MagiC. Together with the free system components fVDI device drivers, XaA ...

which produced coins in Kaunas that operated between 1665 and 1667 and again between 1936 and 1939.

History

The mint was founded on 17 October 1665, during the reign of Grand Duke

John II Casimir Vasa John II Casimir ( pl, Jan II Kazimierz Waza; lt, Jonas Kazimieras Vaza; 22 March 1609 – 16 December 1672) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1648 until his abdication in 1668 as well as titular King of Sweden from 1648 ...

of the

Grand Duchy of Lithuania The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire of Austria. The state was founded by Lit ...

. Building of the mint (10 × 25 meters in size) was located in Kaunas Town Hall Square and was governed by A. G. fon Horn, whose initials ''GFH'' were minted on the coins as well. It minted

copper Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from la, cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkis ...

shillings (also known as

boratynka Boratynka (boratynek) is a popular, unofficial name of a copper szeląg (shilling), minted in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1659-1668, during the reign of John II Casimir. Coin weighing 1-1,2 g, was minted by Tito Livio Burattini. The n ...

). In total, more than 40 million coins were minted in the Kaunas Mint, until 15 January 1667. In 1936, the Kaunas Mint was reestablished by the Ministry of Finance of Lithuania and produced coins from 16 May 1936 to 1939. In 1936, it minted bronze coins of 1, 2, 5 cents, silver coins of 1

Lithuanian litas The Lithuanian litas ( ISO currency code LTL, symbolized as Lt; plural ''litai'' (nominative) or ''litų'' (genitive) was the currency of Lithuania, until 1 January 2015, when it was replaced by the euro. It was divided into 100 centų (genit ...

(with the date of 1925), 5 litas (with a portrait of

Jonas Basanavičius Jonas Basanavičius (, pl, Jan Basanowicz; 23 November 1851 – 16 February 1927) was an activist and proponent of the Lithuanian National Revival. He participated in every major event leading to the independent Lithuanian state and is often give ...

) and 10 litas (with a portrait of

Vytautas the Great Vytautas (c. 135027 October 1430), also known as Vytautas the Great ( Lithuanian: ', be, Вітаўт, ''Vitaŭt'', pl, Witold Kiejstutowicz, ''Witold Aleksander'' or ''Witold Wielki'' Ruthenian: ''Vitovt'', Latin: ''Alexander Vitoldus'', O ...

). In 1938, a commemorative silver coin, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Independent Lithuania, was minted there. In total, more than 25 million coins were minted in the Kaunas mint, while coins, their stamps and blanks were made in

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

. The mint was located on the ground floor of the building of the joint-stock company ''Spindulys'', governed by Jonas Karys-Kareckas.

Coins minted in the Kaunas Mint (Grand Duchy of Lithuania)

Lithuanian Shilling of Jonas Kazimieras Vaza with his portrait and Vytis (Waykimas), minted in Kaunas, 1665.jpg, Minted in 1665 Lithuanian Shilling of Jonas Kazimieras Vaza with his portrait and Vytis (Waykimas), minted in Kaunas, 1665 (2).jpg, Minted in 1665 Lithuanian Shilling of Jonas Kazimieras Vaza with his portrait and Vytis (Waykimas), minted in Kaunas, 1666.jpg, Minted in 1666 Lithuanian Shilling of Jonas Kazimieras Vaza with his portrait and Vytis (Waikymas), minted in Kaunas, 1666 (2).jpg, Minted in 1666

Coins minted in the Kaunas Mint (interwar period)

Litwa 1c.jpg, Coin of 1 Lithuanian cent with

Vytis The coat of arms of Lithuania consists of a mounted armoured knight holding a sword and shield, known as (). Since the early 15th century, it has been Lithuania's official coat of arms and is one of the oldest European coats of arms. It is ...

and the

Columns of Gediminas The Columns of Gediminas or Pillars of Gediminas ( lt, Gediminaičių stulpai, ; be, Калюмны, translit=Kaliumny, 'Columns') are one of the earliest symbols of Lithuania and its historical coats of arms. They were used in the Grand Duchy of ...

Lithuanian coin of 5 cents with Vytis (Waykimas) and the Columns of Gediminas, 1925.jpg, Coin of 5 Lithuanian cents with Vytis and the Columns of Gediminas 1 LT 1925 A.png, Coin of 1

1 LT 1925 R.png, Coin of 1 Lithuanian litas with Vytis 5 LT 1936 A.png, Coin of 5 Lithuanian litas with a portrait of

Litwa 10lt.jpg, Coin of 5 Lithuanian litas with a portrait of

and Vytis

References

Grand Duchy of Lithuania 1665 establishments Mints (currency) Mints of Europe 17th-century establishments in Lithuania Currencies of Lithuania History of Kaunas History of Lithuania (1569–1795) Economy of Lithuania History of Lithuania (1918–1940) {{Lithuania-stub

History

Coins minted in the Kaunas Mint (Grand Duchy of Lithuania)

Coins minted in the Kaunas Mint (interwar period)

See also

References