50 Litas coin issued to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the settling down of Karaims and Tatars in Lithuania. Designed by Vladas Vildžiūnas,1997. (a fragment of this design is used as symbol in this website)

The most important dates in the history of Lithuanian Karaims

1397-1398 - the beginning of settlements in Lithuania (Trakai).
1441 - Lithuanian Karaims were given the rights of self-government. Since then the community elected the leader, who was in charge of its inner life and represented its interests at sovereign, administration and inhabitants.
1528 - first hymns in Karaim language were published in prayer book.
1690 - the professor of Upsala University in Sweden Gustav Peringer (1651-1710) sent by his country's King Karl XI, made special trip to Lithuania and was the first who paid attention to Karaim ethnic and linguistic originality.
1710 - in Lithuania was epidemic plague, extremely big number of Karaims died.
19th cent. mid. - Karaim Spiritual Board was founded in Trakai
1932 - the Society of Lovers of Karaim Literature and History was founded in Vilnius
1936 - a law was announced, regulating legal status of Karaim religious community in the state
1949 - Karaim kenesa was closed in Vilnius.
1970 - Karaim kenesa in Panevėžys was destroyed.
1988 - Karaim cultural community in Lithuania was established.
1989 - first international Karaim Congress took place in Trakai
1992 - Karaim community as the traditional one existed since XIV cent. was given the status of juridical person and settled its residence in Vilnius.
1993 - Karaim kenesa in Vilnius was restored and reconsecrated.
1997 - celebration of 600th anniversary of Karaim and Tatar first settlements in Lithuania.