Lithuania 50 Litu banknote 1991 (ND 1993) SPECIMEN – “Correct Valdybos” Variety

Official specimen note printed by U.S. Banknote Co. with all-zero serials and bold red SPECIMEN overprint on both sides.

PMG-certified 65 EPQ Gem Unc (Exceptional Paper Quality) – untouched corners, crisp paper, original embossing.

Correct-spelling variety – legend VALDYBOS PIRMININKAS on the front is spelled correctly (earlier trial printings showed “VALDYBOS” errors).

Obverse: Intaglio portrait of Dr Jonas Basanavičius (1851-1927), “Patriarch of the Nation,” set behind a modernised sun-ray motif and 50-Litu denomination.

Reverse: Sepia panorama of Vilnius Old Town with the Cathedral, Bell Tower and Gediminas Hill, symbolising the reborn Lithuanian state.

Security features: Multicolour fibres, Vytis national-arms watermark, vertical printer’s registration devices.

Dimensions: 135 × 70 mm • Paper: high-grade security rag stock.

Catalogues: Pick 49as • TBB B135s • Rosenblum Lithuania #--.

Why this note matters

The 1991 provisional series was Lithuania’s first currency after regaining independence. Specimen strikes like this one were distributed to central-bank archives and major world collections—very few reached the collector market. The corrected “Valdybos” plate makes this piece the final and official print-run master, distinguishing it from trial “error” specimens of the same value.