Bye, bye Lithuanian Litas!

With less than 24 hours to go until euros are introduced, it seems appropriate to take a moment to remember the Lithuanian national currency. For the second time in history, it is about to give way to a larger and stronger currency, but this time it is voluntary. The first time it was replaced was in 1940, when Russian occupants introduced the ruble.




It’s those aviators again. Do you think you have seen the last of them on Lithuanian money? Just wait until they have to come up with another symbol to put on a coin other than Vytis.

The transition from a national currency to euros usually seems drastic to most people, since it happens more or less overnight. In reality, the change is not that huge. The whole thing was in fact decided a long time ago, and Litas have been fixed to Euros for over a decade. It must on the contrary be considered a positive sign that the Lithuanian economy now has been found strong enough for the actual coins and notes to be introduced.

 

 

They probably chose this rather unknown man for the 200 Litas note, so that counterfeiters would have a hard time

 

Then again, people are always skeptical of new things. And in Lithuania, people skeptical to new things have up through history been proven right disturbingly often. One could name such transitions as the introduction of Christianity, the cooperation with Poland, the separation from Poland, the introduction of communism, the parting with communism…they all left sceptics with the right to say “well, It told you it would all turn to shit”. Time will tell whether they will be right this time also.

 



The man on the 100 litas note is Simonas Daukantas. If you already know who he is,
there is no need to read any further. My blog can teach you nothing that you don`t already know.

So will it go terribly wrong? Will prices rise to high heavens and people starve? Will everyone have to flee to the countryside and live off of grandmas potatoes?  If experience has taught me anything, it is that dramatic changes that are advertised in advance seldom materialize. We have such examples as Y2K, the Maya calendar Dooms Day, the first Ebola epidemic (not the second, unannounced breakout), the theoretical possibility that the Americans could lose Desert Storm, or indeed Obamas inappropriately named campaign “Change”.

 

Change we can believe in? Well, not any more.

 

So what will happen? Most likely nothing. But we do however know one thing for certain – the next time financial troubles hit Lithuania the euro is sure to be blamed. Even if it takes 100 years (although, with the luck of the Lithuanians there should be a financial crisis just around the corner).