Euro for Lithuania in 2010

It's starting: tolars, koruna and zloty are going to disappear. Now it looks like 2010 will be the year when Lithuania gives up litas for euros.

A couple of months back we mentioned that Slovenia would adopt the Euro from 1 January 2007. Lithuania had hoped to make the change at the same time, but its economic statistics didn't fulfil the EU requirements.

Now, it looks likely that the beginning of 2010 will mark Lithuania's entry to the common currency zone. The Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas said last week that even the European Central Bank seems to "informally" approve of this date, and every effort will be made to give up the Lithuanian currency of litas at this time.

So you must get to Lithuania in the next three years if you want to be sure to collect some genuine Lithuanian Litas. I have a few stashed in a jar in my cupboard, but I'm not sharing! I've said it before: a joint currency is a fantastic, practical idea, that saves time and money; but it's just not the same as fingering exotic coins and notes of all colors and sizes.