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A 2 euro commemorative coin of the Republic of Lithuania, issued in 2022 in a circulation of 500,000 copies. The fourth in the series "Lithuanian Ethnographic Regions", dedicated to Suwalki. It was minted at the Lithuanian Mint in Vilnius. Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g.
Obverse
The center of the coin depicts the stylized coat of arms of Suwalki (Suvalkijos herbas) - the historical heraldic sign of the region with a bee in the background, a symbol of the region's industriousness, fertility and agricultural culture. At the top is the name of the region "SUVALKIJA". At the bottom is the name of the country "LIETUVA", the Lithuanian Mint mark "LMK", and the year of issue "2022". On the outer ring are the 12 five-pointed 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 rim is finely fluted and has the Lithuanian inscription "LAISVĖ ★ VIENYBĖ ★ GEROVĖ ★" (Freedom, Unity, Prosperity).
Historical context
Suvalkija (also known as Syduva, Užnemunė) is one of the five ethnographic regions of Lithuania, located in the southwestern part of the country between the Neman River in the east and the border with Poland in the west. The area is about 7,000 km². The main cities are Marijampole, Vilkaviškis, Kazlu-Ruda. The region received its modern name from its former administrative center, the city of Suwalki, which is now in Poland. After the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the region was part of the Kingdom of Poland under the Russian Empire (in the Suwalki Governorate), unlike other Lithuanian lands that were part of the Vilnius Governorate. Therefore, serfdom was abolished here earlier (1807), education was more developed, and peasants retained economic freedoms. As a result, many figures of the Lithuanian national revival of the 19th century came from Suwalki: Jonas Jablonskis (father of the literary language), Vincas Kudirka (author of the Lithuanian anthem), Jonas Basanavicius. The region is famous for agriculture, livestock breeding, and beekeeping.