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A 2 euro commemorative coin of the Republic of Lithuania, issued in 2019 in a circulation of 500,000 copies. Dedicated to the Lithuanian polyphonic songs sutartines. It was minted at the Lithuanian Mint in Vilnius. Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g.
Overse
The national side of the coin depicts linear motifs symbolizing the polyphonic melodies of the unique Lithuanian heritage - sutartines folk songs. The lines expand and narrow again, twisting into a vortex decorated with various miniature geometric and natural figures. The coin bears the inscriptions "LIETUVA", "SUTARTINĖS", the year "2019" and the mark of the Lithuanian Mint. On the ring are the 12 stars of the EU.
Reverse
The reverse is the common side of the 2 euro coins of the second type, designed by Luc Luix (Royal Belgian Mint). It depicts a map of Europe as a single continent without internal borders - a symbol of European unity. On the left is a large denomination "2" and the inscription "EURO", on the right is a map with six thin horizontal lines in the background. On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the European Union. The band is with a thin groove and the Lithuanian inscription "LAISVĖ ★ VIENYBĖ ★ GEROVĖ ★" (Freedom, Unity, Prosperity).
Historical context
Sutartines (sutartinės) is a unique genre of Lithuanian folk polyphonic song tradition, found mainly in Aukštaitija (northeastern Lithuania). The genre is distinguished by a special second-polyphonic technique, when two, three or four parts are sung simultaneously with special harmonic dissonances (seconds), creating a unique "hundred-eyed" sound effect. Sutartines are performed mainly by women, in pairs or in larger groups. The lyrics are often related to work (harvest, ritual songs), weddings, family life, and the calendar cycle. The oldest sutartines recordings date back to the 16th-17th centuries. The tradition declined significantly in the 20th century, but has been revived since the 1970s thanks to ethnomusicologists. On November 16, 2010, UNESCO included sutartines on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.