2 Euro commemorative coins Latvia

Latvia

2 Euro

C o m m e m o r a t i v e C o i n s

Latvia
The edge lettering on the Latvian 2‐Euro‐commemorative coins is : (God bless Latvia)
Image	Country		Date	Feature	Ref.	Volume
🔎		Latvia	12 Aug. 2014	Riga, European Capital of Culture 2014	20001 20002 20005	1,005,000	•
	Description : Riga's Old and New Towns have been World Heritage Sites since 1997. The coin designed by Henrihs Vorkals, whose plaster model Jānis Strupulis made, shows Riga Castle on the banks of the River Düna, the official residence of the Latvian president, for the Livonian Order of the citizens of the Hanseatic city (who had pulled down the castle built by the Brothers of the Sword in 1330‐1353 in 1484), which was forcibly built until 1515. In 1939 its three‐star tower (the third tower from the left in the motif), whose top is formed by the three stars symbolising the regions of Latvia, was added. Left background: tower of St. John's Church (Sv. Jana baznīca), built around 1500, next to it the Cathedral of St. James (Svētā Jēkaba katedrāle), first mentioned in a document in 1225, with an octagonal spire redesigned in baroque style in 1756. Centre: St. Peter's Church (Svētā Pētera baznīca), built around 1200 in brick Gothic style and rebuilt after a town fire in 1721. Right: Riga Cathedral (Rīgas Doms), the main church of the city, built 1211‐1270, with a tower rebuilt in the Baroque style after a fire in 1776. At the top is a semi‐circle the occasion of issue "EIROPAS KULTŪRAS GALVASPILSĒTA" (European Capital of Culture), below is "RIGA ‐ 2014" and the country code "LV". The coin was produced by the German mint Staatliche Münzen Baden‐Württemberg in Stuttgart.

🔎		Latvia	10 Feb. 2015	EU Presidency	20001 20002 20005	1,025,000	•
	Description : Latvia's Presidency of the Council in the first half of 2015 is the first since its accession to the EU in 2004 and its priorities are embedded in the 18‐month programme of the trio presidency of Italy, Latvia and Luxembourg. The coin, designed by Gunārs Lūsis, whose plaster model Jānis Strupulis made, features the logo of the Latvian Presidency, a stylised mill wheel symbolising prosperity and success and representing creative and productive work ethic. It is complemented by the inscription "LATVIJAS PREZIDENTŪRA ES PADOMĒ" ("Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU") and the indication of the website "EU2015.LV". In 2010, on the occasion of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, a website ("eutrio.be", with information on the Presidency of the Council) was mentioned on a commemorative coin for the first time. The coin was minted as a normal minting by the German mint Staatliche Münzen Baden‐Württemberg in Stuttgart, in the proof production process by the German mint Staatliche Münzen Baden‐Württemberg in Karlsruhe.

🔎		Latvia	03 Nov. 2015	30th anniversary of the EU‐Flag	20001 20002 20005	1,010,000	•
	Description : From 1950, the Council of Europe had been working on the design of a flag for Europe. The proposal to adopt the emblem of the Paneuropa Union, founded by Richard Coudenhove‐Kalergi in 1922, was rejected because of its supposed Christian symbolism. In 1955 it was agreed that the European flag, also adopted by the European Community on 29th of June 1985, would be the European flag with the twelve (a number of twelve is considered a sign of perfection) golden stars in a circular (symbolising unity) arrangement on a blue background. To mark the 30th anniversary of the EU flag, all 19 EU countries which use the euro as their official currency issued a commemorative €2 coin. There were five designs to choose from which could be voted for online. The result was declared on 28th of May 2015. The coin design was created by Georgios Stamatopoulos, coin designer at the Bank of Greece, whose initials "ΓΣ" can be seen in the lower right‐hand corner. It shows twelve stylised persons in a circle around a European flag with the twelve euro stars. National characteristics : Above is the name of the issuing country "LATVIJA" (Latvia), followed by the dates "1985‐2015". The coin was minted without mintmarks by the German mint Staatliche Münzen Baden‐Württemberg in Stuttgart.

🔎		Latvia	01 Dec. 2015	Stork	20001 20002 20005	1,000,000	•
	Description : From mid‐April to the end of August, the white stork's nests and their inhabitants dominate the Latvian landscape ‐ 5% of all white storks in the world breed here. The shy and hidden breeding Black Stork ‐ more common in the Baltic States than in Central and Western Europe ‐ has been the subject of a conservation programme supported by the "Latvian Ornithological Society", founded 30 years ago, for the past 10 years. Storks in general are considered a symbol of nature conservation. The motif of the stork already existed on the former national currency, the lats, on the 1‐lats coin in circulation. Below the motif the issuing country "LATVIJA" (Latvia) and below it the year of issue "2015" can be seen. The coin, designed by Olga Šilova, was minted without mintmark by the Lithuanian mint Lietuvos monetų kalykla in Vilnius.

🔎		Latvia	19 Jul. 2016	Latvian agriculture industry	20001 20002 20005	1,010,000	•
	Description : The coin designed by Gunārs Lūsis, whose plaster model Jānis Strupulis made, shows a cow, a Latvian brown, which is a symbol of Latvian dairy farming in folklore and everyday life. There were already a 2‐lats coins with this design before the introduction of the euro. The pill shows the year of issue "2016" and the name of the issuing country "LATVIJA" (Latvia). The coin was minted without mintmarks by the Lithuanian mints Lietuvos monetų kalykla in Vilnius.

🔎		Latvia	15 Nov. 2016	Vidzeme (Livland) 1st coin of the Historical Regions series	20001 20002 20005	1,010,000	•
	Description : The coin, designed by Laimonis Šēnbergs, whose plaster model Jānis Strupulis made, is dedicated to Vidzeme (Central Livonia) and shows a griffin, a fantasy figure in heraldry with an eagle's upper body and a lion's abdomen in the coat of arms of the historical region of Latvia. Already in 1566 the coat of arms of the Duchy of Livonia (Pārdaugava) showed a griffin turned to the left (the griffin in the coat of arms of Latvia turns to the right). Above the coat of arms reads "LATVIJA" (Latvia) as the issuing state, below the coat of arms is the inscription "VIDZEME" (Livonia). The year of issue "2016" is indicated on the right side. The coin was minted without mintmarks by the Lithuanian mint Lietuvos monetų kalykla in Vilnius.

🔎		Latvia	14 Nov. 2017	Kurzeme (Courland) 2nd coin of the Historical Regions series	20001 20002 20005	500,000	•
	Description : The coin designed by Laimonis Šēnbergs, whose plaster model Jānis Strupulis made, is dedicated to Kurland and shows a lion in the coat of arms of the historical region of Latvia ‐ as it was in the coat of arms of Gotthard Kettler, the first Duke of Kurland and Semgallia, from 1569. Above the coat of arms, the state of issue reads "LATVIJA" (Latvia), below the coat of arms is the inscription "KURZEME" (Kurland). On the right side the year of issue is "2017". The coin was minted without mintmarks by the German mint Staatliche Münzen Baden‐Württemberg in Stuttgart.

🔎		Latvia	14 Nov. 2017	Latgale 3rd coin of the Historical Regions series	20001 20002 20005	500,000	•
	Description : The coin, designed by Laimonis Šēnbergs, whose plaster model Jānis Strupulis made, is dedicated to Latgalia and shows in the coat of arms of the historical region of Latvia a griffin turned to the right, a fantasy figure in heraldry with an eagle upper body and a lion abdomen. As early as 1566, the coat of arms of the Duchy of Livonia (Pãrdaugava) showed a griffin (which, however, as in Vidzeme's coat of arms, is turned to the left). Above the coat of arms, the state of issue reads "LATVIJA" (Latvia), and below the coat of arms is the inscription "LATGALE" (Latgalia). The year of issue "2017" is indicated on the right side. The coin was minted without mintmarks by the German mint Staatliche Münzen Baden‐Württemberg in Stuttgart.

🔎		Latvia	31 Jan. 2018	Establishment of the states of Estonia and Latvia, Re-establishment of the state of Lithuania Common Issue of the three Baltic States	20001 20002 20005	512,000	•
	Description : In a public vote in all three Baltic countries, the winner of a competition to design a joint issue to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the states of Estonia and Latvia and the re‐founding of the state of Lithuania was chosen. The Lithuanian designer Justas Petrulis symbolises the fate of the three countries as one plait ‐ interwoven by a common past, present and future. The heraldic symbols of the three states, their coats of arms, and a stylised "100" to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the state are depicted. The coat of arms of Lithuania (left) shows a knight on a jumping horse with the cross of Lorraine on the shield, the small national coat of arms of Latvia (centre) shows a rising sun, a lion and a griffin, and the coat of arms of Estonia (right) shows three leopards. On the left side is the name of the respective issuing country "EESTI" (Estonia), "LATVIJA" (Latvia) or "LIETUVA" (Lithuania) and on the right side the year of issue "2018". The coin was produced without mintmark by the Lithuanian mint Lietuvos monetų kalykla in Vilnius.

🔎		Latvia	26 Sep. 2018	Zemgale (Semigallia) 4th coin of the Historical Regions series	20001 20002 20005	507,000	•
	Description : The coin designed by Laimonis Šēnbergs, whose plaster model Jānis Strupulis made, is dedicated to Semgale and shows an elk in the coat of arms of the historical region of Latvia ‐ as it was in the coat of arms of Gotthard Kettler, the first Duke of Courland and Semgallia, from 1569. Above the coat of arms it reads "LATVIJA" as the issuing state, below the coat of arms is the inscription "ZEMGALE" (Semigallia). On the right side the year of issue is "2018". The coin was minted without mintmarks by the German mint Staatliche Münzen Baden‐Württemberg in Stuttgart.

🔎		Latvia	17 Sep. 2019	Coat of arms of Latvia's rising sun	20001 20002 20005	307,000	•
	Description : The coin designed by Ivars Drulle is dedicated to the history of the Latvian national coat of arms. Ansis Cirulis created one of the basic elements of the coat of arms in 1915 ‐ the creation of a new country was compared to the rising sun. For the Latvian Battalion Daugagrïva he designed its flag with reference to the silver sun of Latvian mythology and the Dainas. The ligature of the stylised letters "B" and "L" for "Brïva Latvija" (free Latvia) is placed in the centre of the sun on the coin ‐ a dream still distant in 1915. In the foreground are the gently curving lines of the dunes and hills of the Latvian coast. The top reads "UZLECOŠÄ SAULE" (the rising sun), below the issuing country "LATVIJA" (Latvia) and "2019". The coin was minted without a mintmark by the Dutch mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Utrecht.

🔎		Latvia	05 Jun. 2020	Letgalian ceramics	20002 20007 20008	412,000	•
	Description : In the Latvian regions of Letgale (Latgale) and Kurzeme (Kurland), abundant clay deposits provide material for the production of pottery. Especially in the Latvian Rēzekne this traditional handicraft has survived and forms part of the Latvian cultural heritage. A glazed five‐armed ceramic candlestick is the motif of the coin designed by Gundega Rancāne. On the top it reads "2020" and LATVIJA" (Latvia), below "LATGALES KERAMIKA" (Latvian ceramics). The coin was made without mintmarks by the Lithuanian mint Lietuvos monetų kalykla in Vilnius.

🔎		Latvia	20 Jan. 2021	100th anniversary of the recognition of the Republic of Latvia	20002 20007 20008	412,000	•
	Description : Following the declaration of Latvian state independence by the Latvian People's Council on the 18th of November 1918 and the subsequent Latvian War of Independence, which ended with the Peace of Riga in 1920, Latvia was internationally recognised de jure on the 26th of January 1921. The coup d'état of the 15th of May 1934 in Latvia eliminated the parliament and established an authoritarian regime. In a secret additional protocol to the German‐Soviet non‐aggression pact, it was agreed on the 23rd of August 1939 that Latvia would be part of the Soviet Union's sphere of influence. The latter imposed a mutual assistance and base agreement on Latvia. On the 31st of October 1939, a resettlement treaty concerning the Baltic Germans was signed between the German Reich and Latvia. On the 17th of June 1940, Soviet troops occupied Latvia and de facto incorporated it into the Soviet Union. From the 10th of July 1941 to 1945, Latvia was occupied by the Wehrmacht. In 1945, the so‐called Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic was renewed. The mass deportation of Latvians to Siberia in 1941 was followed by further deportations in 1945 and 1949. On the 4th of May 1990, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia declared the country's independence restored. This was recognised by the Soviet Union on the 6th of September 1991 ‐ together with the independence of Lithuania and Estonia. "100 LATVIJA DE IURE 2021" is the four‐line inscription on the coin, indicating the commemorative occasion, Latvia as the issuing country and the year of issue. The coin was designed by Zane Ernštreite and minted without a mint mark by the German mint Staatlichen Münzen Baden‐Württemberg in Stuttgart.

🔎		Latvia	12 Apr. 2022	100 years of Bank of Latvia	20003 20005	415,000	•
	Work in progress

🔎		Latvia	01 Jul. 2022	35th anniversary of the Erasmus Program	20003 20005 20009	308,000	•
	Description : ERASMUS is a backronym for EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students. The ERASMUS exchange programme is aimed at EU citizens who have been studying at a university for at least one year and supports a three to twelve‐month stay abroad at a university within the EU, or an internship. In addition, there are master's and doctoral programmes, programmes for young entrepreneurs, for school education, vocational training and adult education. Internships as well as professional development measures are financially supported and language courses abroad are also made possible for working people. The backronym refers to the Dutch philosopher and theologian Erasmus of Rotterdam (∼1466‐1536), described as "the crowning glory of the Christian humanists", depicted after a painting by Hans Holbein the Younger created in 1523. The French coin designer Joaquin Jimenez, whose initials "J.J." appear next to Erasmus' pen, has designed as a background a network of connecting lines between the twelve stars arranged in a circle and symbolising Europe, which is intended to represent the manifold intellectual and human exchanges between European students. By relieving some partial areas between the connecting lines, the numbers 3 and 5 emerge, referring to the 35th anniversary of the programme. In a block of three to four lines of lettering arranged in a quarter circle at the bottom right, the commemorative period is written as "1987-2022" (the last number also designating the year of issue) below the occasion of issue, followed by the name of the issuing state, if this does not consist of an abbreviation placed in the centre of the motif. National characteristics : The quarter circle at the bottom right has four lines; below the commemorative period the occasion of issue "ERASMUS PROGRAMMA" (Erasmus programme in Latvian) is written in two lines, below it the issuing country "LATVIJA" (Latvia). The coin was produced without a mint mark by the Lithuanian mint Lietuvos monetų kalykla in Vilnius. The coin belongs to those with a more structured background.

🔎		Latvia	30 May 2023	The Sunflower of Ukraine	20003 20008 20009	410,000	•
	Description : Ukraine is home to the world's largest areas of sunflower cultivation and is a leader in the production and export of sunflower oil. The coin is dedicated to the sunflower, the national symbol of Ukraine, and to the struggle of the Ukrainian people for their continued existence in peace and freedom. The Ukrainian resistance since the occupation and annexation of Crimea by Russia as well as the secession of parts of the Donbas in 2014 and intensified since the invasion of Russian troops that began on the 24th of February 2022 is also actively supported by Latvia. The proceeds of the commemorative coins issued as Coincards will be donated to Ukraine. Coin designer Krišs Salmanis chose the flower, which has become a worldwide symbol of peace, as the motif. In the flower basket surrounded by ray florets, the many fruits formed from tubular flowers close together stand out, forming numerous spirals (running clockwise or anti‐clockwise). These are called 'Fibonacci spirals' after the Italian arithmetician Leonardo Fibonacci (1170‐1242) and are associated with the golden section. "SLAVA UKRAINAI!" (Glory to Ukraine!) is written at the top as the occasion of issue, below are the issuing country "LATVIJA" (Latvia) and "2023" as the year of issue. The coin was minted without mint mark by the Lithuanian mint Lietuvos monetų kalykla in Vilnius.

References :
20001	Images taken with authorisation by the ECB ‐ Mail dated 20.Feb.2020 © "European Central Bank"	20002	Data mirrored from Wikipedia Page "2_euro_commemorative_coins" with friendly support of the guardians of that page.
20003	Images taken with authorisation by H....... Hamburg	20004	Coloured version of this Commemorative Coin in circulation EU‐legal‐technical specifications do not recongnise colour prints. The EU nevertheless tolerates them, as their numbers are very small and they are sold in special packs and therefor are very unlikely to be used as currency.
20005	enlarged Images taken with authorisation by Gerd Seyffert © "Gerd Seyffert 2021"	20006	Not Applicable
20007	Images taken by Münzen Kreuzberg © "Münzen Kreuzberg 2021"	20008	enlarged Images taken by Münzen Kreuzberg © "Münzen Kreuzberg 2021"
20009	Text with kind permission by Gerd Seyffert © "Gerd Seyffert 2023"	20010	Not Applicable