Coins of Lithuania ( Eastern Europe )

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All coins above were minted after Lithuania achieved independence from the Soviets.

A branch of the Baltic tribes known as Lithuanians settled in this ancient land dated back to at least 1009.  After conquering neighbouring  lands, they established  what was known as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.  In 1308 the Grand Duchy formed a union with Poland and later merged into a Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.  Later on the Lithuanians lived under the rule of the Russian empire until the 20th. century.  In 1918, Lithuania became a democratic state and remained independent until World War I when it was again occupied by the Soviets. Occupied by the Nazi during the war, it achieved independence  in 1990 after remained in Soviet hands for almost 50 years.