1 centas 1922

Common. The eBay price history provided shows consistent trading in the $15-$213 range across all grades from 2014-2020, with VF examples selling between $22.50-$117.50. The 2016 catalogue value of $30 for VF grade and the frequency of sales across multiple condition grades indicate this is a regularly available note in the collector market. Early Lithuanian issues from 1922 were produced in sufficient quantities to ensure reasonable availability today, despite the historical significance of the period.

Issued on November 16, 1922, this note commemorates Lithuania's establishment as an independent nation following World War I and the collapse of the Russian Empire. The formal heraldic design with the Lithuanian coat of arms reflects the newly sovereign state's efforts to establish national monetary credibility and identity. The denominations in centai (cents) were part of Lithuania's adoption of the litas currency system, connecting the nation to Western European monetary standards and signaling its orientation toward independence from Soviet and German spheres of influence.

The obverse features a symmetrical, formal design centered on an ornamental Lithuanian state coat of arms or heraldic crest rendered in blue-grey tones against a fine parallel line background pattern that serves as a security element. Text is arranged in three zones (top, center, bottom) with 'LIETUVOS BANKO' and 'VIENAS CENTAS' prominently displayed. The reverse displays a large ornamental numeral '1' in burgundy-red with decorative flourishes as the dominant central motif, flanked by 'CENTAS' on both sides. The background employs a wavy line security pattern in green ink. Both sides maintain tan/beige paper stock with carefully controlled color separations between front (blue-grey) and reverse (green) printing.

FRONT: 'LIETUVOS BANKO' (Bank of Lithuania), 'VIENAS CENTAS' (One Cent), 'SERIJA' (Series). BACK: 'LIETUVOS BANKO BANKNOTES' (Lithuanian Bank Notes), 'CENTAS' (Cent - appears twice flanking the numeral), 'BANKNOTU FABIRIMAS ISTAISYMU BAUDZIKIMAS' (Bank note production facility / manufacturing regulations - partially unclear in original).

Intaglio letterpress printing, likely produced by F-CO (Förster & Company) or similar European security printer specializing in banknote production. The fine parallel and wavy line background patterns, the precise registration of multi-color elements, and the crisp definition of the heraldic imagery are characteristic of professional intaglio security printing techniques employed for early 20th-century European currency.

Series C as noted in the collector notes. The PMG population report indicates variants P-7a and P-7s3 exist for the 1 Centas denomination. The specific series designation (C) should be verified against the serial number prefix visible on the note. No overprints, date variations, or signature variants are apparent from the visual analysis, suggesting this is a standard print of the regular 1922 issue.