Shopping Cart
A 2 euro commemorative coin of the Republic of Lithuania, issued in 2024 in a circulation of 500,000 copies. Dedicated to Lithuanian thatched gardens. 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 a stylized Lithuanian thatched garden (šiaudiniai sodai) - a traditional decorative product made of straw in the form of multifaceted three-dimensional structures connected by threads that slowly rotate in the air. The ornament resembles a star or a cosmic structure. Around it is the inscription "LIETUVIŠKI SODAI" (Lithuanian Gardens). Below - "LIETUVA", the Lithuanian Mint mark "LMK", the year "2024". On the outer ring are the 12 five-pointed stars of the European Union.
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
Lithuanian straw gardens (šiaudiniai sodai, or simply sodai) are a unique decorative and applied art of Lithuania, which has an ancient folk tradition. They are made of straw (mostly rye), which is strung on threads in the form of geometric three-dimensional figures - octahedrons, dodecahedrons, multifaceted "flowers" or more complex symbolic structures. The gardens are hung from the ceiling in the house and slowly rotate from air currents, creating a mystical feeling of movement. In the folk tradition, the garden symbolizes a model of the Universe (Cosmos), the World Tree, harmony, fertility and protection of the home hearth. They were traditionally made during the winter solstice and weddings. In Lithuanian village houses, straw gardens were hung above the table, near the windows, and above the baby's cradle. The technique is passed down in families, community workshops, and taught in schools. In 2020, the making of Lithuanian straw gardens was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List as a symbol of Lithuanian folk culture.