Banks, Financial Services, History, Lithuania

Mikolaj Radziwill the Black, Duke of Olyka and Nesvizh, Marszalek of the GDL, Voivode of Vilnius and Chancellor of the GDL, born on 4 February 1515, was a political figure of extraordinary talent and exceptional brightness in the 16th century.

The reverse of the coin employs artistic means to depict a portrait of Mikolaj Radziwill the Black; next to is the coat-of-arms of the Radziwill family and, in a semicircle, are the words: Mikolaj Radziwill the Black, 500.

In the centre of the obverse of the coin – a stylised Vytis in a shield; the coin is decorated with a braid of decorative elements in a circle.

The 20 euro coin is minted from 925 fineness silver.

Each country whose currency is the euro, has the right to mint collector euro coins, selecting the denomination, metal and other features at its discretion. These coins must significantly differ from circulation coins in at least two of the following three features: colour, diameter or weight. Such coins are legal tender only in the country that issues them, differently than circulation and commemorative coins, which are legal tender throughout the euro area.

The first collector euro coin was issued by the Bank of Lithuania on 29 January 2015. It was a 50 euro gold coin dedicated to coinage in the GDL.

From 1993 to 2014, the Bank of Lithuanian issued 88 collector (commemorative) coins and 18 collector (commemorative) circulation coins.