Lithuania 1938 2 litai KM-Pn8
This specimen was lot 43234 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2026), where it sold for $16,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "Impressive Near-Gem Lithuanian Pattern, LITHUANIA. Silver 2 Litai Pattern, 1938. PCGS SPECIMEN-64. Reeded Edge. An EXTREMELY RARE Pattern from near the end of "Smetona's time" and the First Lithuanian Republic, this alluring specimen displays a sharp lustrous brilliance, and alluringly impressed details. The surfaces show considerable die polishing lines, and the argent vivacity is unimpinged by any hint of tone. For any collectors of Baltic coinage, finding another example this nice would be a challenge. From the Collection of Kazmier Wysocki, former mayor of Hackensack, New Jersey." Numerous patterns exist for this denomination (KM Pn7, Pn8, Pn9, Pn10, Pn11, Pn12) but ultimately none were adopted. Antanas Smetona (1874-1944) was president and dictator of Lithuania 1926-40. He fled Lithuania when the Soviets invaded and died in a house fire in Cleveland in January 1944.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.500 fine silver, 23 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-Pn8.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2026 NYINC Showcase Auction, Ancient and World Coins, featuring the Kazmier Wysocki Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
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