Latvia 2014: Euro Circulation Coins

[chrisild]

As from 1 January 2014 Latvia will be part of the euro area, and issue euro and cent coins. Posts about the economic and political background, and about previous designs, can be found here:

Latvia changes the design of the 2 euro coin? (started in Jul-2008)
Latvia to join the euro area on 1-Jan-2014 (started in Feb-2012)

This topic is about the coins that will circulate in a few months. As in several other euro countries, there will be three different designs:
* 1 / 2 / 5 cent: Latvia's small coat of arms (designer: Laimonis Senbergs)
* 10 / 20 / 50 cent: Latvia's large CoA, with lion and griffin (designer: Laimonis Senbergs)
* 1 / 2 euro: Latvian maiden portrait (designer: Guntars Sietins)

The "Latvian Maiden" on the €1 and €2 coins was originally depicted on a 5 lats coin in 1929. The edge inscription of the €2 piece will be DIEVS SVĒTĪ LATVIJU (God bless Latvia) divided by stars. Those are the first three words of the Latvian national anthem.

Apparently the initial volume will be 400 million coins. (The circulating coins and commemorative €2 coins from the other euro countries will of course be legal tender in Latvia too.) This initial supply is going to be minted in Stuttgart. Attached is an image (from eiro.lv) of the designs; will post larger images (from bank.lv) a little later ...

Christian

[chrisild]

The obverse design for the 1 cent, 2 cent and 5 cent coins:

[chrisild]

The obverse design for the 10 cent, 20 cent and 50 cent coins:

[chrisild]

The obverse design for the 1 euro coins:

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The obverse design for the 2 euro coins:

[Ukrainii Pyat]

I am glad the Maiden returns to coinage that is actually affordable.  Maybe they can do a 5 Euro in silver.

[chrisild]

These two will indeed be affordable. As for silver/gold issues, well, Latvia issued a 5 lati gold piece ten years ago, which also used that original Latvian Maiden design by Rihards Zarins ...

Christian