| Description : The coin is dedicated to Dzūkija (Central Lithuania),
the region in the south‐east of the country with the capital Vilnius and the cultural centre Alytus. Here, Dzūkian
(South Aukshaitic) is spoken, a dialect of Lithuanian. The coin, designed by Rolandas Rimkūnas, shows the coat
of arms of Dzūkija, which was designed in 2003 by Arvydas Každailis, the creator of the Lithuanian
national coat of arms, which was in turn based on the seal of the medieval Grand Duke Kęstutis and included the coat
of arms of the Principality of Trakai, part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which existed from 1337 to 1413. The coin is
illustrated with an armoured knight holding a shield and a pollaxe, flanked by two Eurasian lynxes and below it is the
Latin motto "EX GENTE BELLICOSISSIMA POPULUS LABORIOSUS" (from the most warlike tribe a hardworking people). This honours
the memory of the Baltic tribe of Jatwingers who lived in the provisory territory of the Dzūkija ethnographic region.
At the top of the coin is the word "LIETUVA" (Lithuania) and the year "2021" thr year of issue. At the bottom of the coin
is the word "DZŪKIJA" and above it the circular mint mark "LMK" of the Lithuanian mint Lietuvos monetų
kalykla in Vilnius. |
