**Numismatics in VilNews!**

VilNews has a new contributor, Frank Passic from Michigan, USA, who will be sharing with us his vast knowledge about Lithuanian numismatics. The above photo shows Frank’s grandfather who came to USA from the Varniai area in Western Lithuania near Telšiai in 1911. He had just won a fishing contest and was very proud…

Dear readers, we are delighted and honoured that Mr. Frank Passic from Michigan, USA, has graciously offered to share with us his vast knowledge of Lithuanian numismatics. Frank has collected, researched, and written about Lithuanian numismatics for many years. His educational displays of Lithuanian money have won numerous awards at state and national coin shows in the United States. Of Lithuanian heritage, his maternal grandparents emigrated from Lithuania to America just prior to World War I. Frank may be contacted at: albionfp@hotmail.com

He is one of the founders of the Lithuanian Numismatic Association which we operated for 30 years beginning in 1978. Some of his major articles about Lithuanian money are found on the www.albionmich.com website. On the homepage on the right, click on "FRANK PASSIC, Albion Historian." Scroll down to where it says "LITHUANIAN ARTICLES" and click. You'll get a listing. Some articles of interest are: The medals of Petras Rimsa; Displaced Persons Camp Money, Lithuanian Lodge tokens of Chicago," and others.

There is also a book published by the Michigan State University Press in 2009 entitled "Lithuanians in Michigan" by Marius Grazulis which is interesting. It is still in print and available. It has a picture of Frank’s maternal grandfather Nikodemas Kulikauskas (1890-1975). He had come to America from Lithuania in 1911. He was from the greater Varniai area. The above photo of his grandfather is a classic photo of him when he worked at the local factory in Michigan. He had won a company fishing contest and he was so proud!