Latvia 2019: The Rising Sun

[chrisild]

Later this year Latvia will issue a commemorative €2 coin dedicated to the rising sun. That is part of the country's CoA, and in a way this coin continues the series of the regional CoA's issued in the previous years. This sun, however, is a little different from the ones shown on the cent coins:

"The sun motif created by artist Ansis Cīrulis in 1915 was first reproduced on the badges of the Latvian Riflemen Battalion and (...) was also part of the design proposal for the symbol of an autonomous Latvia" - see here. Mintage will be 300,000 (plus 7,000 in BU).

[eurocoin]

Ridiculous theme.

[chrisild]

Well, it is not so much the theme but the timing that I find surprising. Had the coin been issued in 2015 or 2017, it would have commemorated an anniversary ... but 2019?

Interestingly, last year the Latvian postal service issued a stamp that was basically a reproduction of the first Latvian stamp - designed by, you guessed it, Ansis Cīrulis.   Also, Cīrulis designed the national flag, or rather created the current version in 1918. What I do not know is the significance of the central characters on the coin.

Christian

[cam]

Hey,

Do you know what is the strange thing on the sun? Looks like a face.

In general, this sun has something to do with Ansis Cīrulis, but I did not found any artworks that would look anyhow similar.

[chrisild]

Do you know what is the strange thing on the sun? Looks like a face.

In fact, now I do.   Asked about this in a German coin forum, and one of the members had the idea to simply ask the issuer. (Duh.) He posted the answer here; the strange thing is not a smilie but we see the 'stylized letters B and L (an abbreviation from the words "Brīva Latvija" ("Free Latvia")) in the centre'. Well, the central bank could have explained that in the media release. Maybe that is something which is quite obvious for people in Latvia? Dunno, but now we know more ...

Christian

[cam]

Christian, thanks a lot! I would have never guessed! It looks like a guy with glasses

[Bimat]

I would call it a good design for a very bad theme.

Aditya

[eurocoin]

The coins will be produced at the Royal Dutch Mint.

[cam]

The coins will be produced at the Royal Dutch Mint.

Thanks a lot!

Updated info: 2 Euro Latvia 2019 | CoinBrothers Catalog