Lithuania reveals euro coin samples as part of efforts to join eurozone

Lithuania, aiming to join European monetary union in 2015, revealed its euro coin samples, local media reported on Wednesday. "The euro in Lithuania is taking an actual physical form - the Lithuanian coins with the 2015 date now exist not only on paper, but have been minted from metal as well," said Vitas Vasiliauskas, Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania in a statement on its website. The banknotes throughout the euro area are similar, however the reverse of the coins is chosen by each country separately. Mass-minting of the Lithuanian euro coins is scheduled for the end of this summer, when EU's decision on the euro adoption in Lithuania will be announced, according to Vasiliauskas. The samples will serve as the basis for the Lithuanian circulation euro coins, the central bank said. The overall demand for Lithuanian euro coins is around 370 million units.