By Bank of Latvia ……
On Wednesday, 31 January 2018, the Bank of Latvia launched a 2 euro commemorative coin dedicated to the centenary of the Baltic States.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Latvian and Estonian states and the 100th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Lithuanian statehood, the central banks of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have issued a 2 euro commemorative coin with a common design. The design of the national side of the coin was selected in a public on-line vote to commemorate the Baltic nations’ determination to defend their independence. The coin confirms the unity of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia and their readiness to cooperate defending their independence and freedom and symbolizes the common past, present and future of the Baltic States.
The work by Lithuanian designer Justas Petrulis, i.e. a symbolic plait in which the fates of the three Baltic sisters intertwine, has been turned into a coin. This design received the most votes in the public survey in which six coin designs were offered for a vote (per two from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia).
The European side of these euro commemorative coins bearing the nominal value (designed by Luc Luycx) is the same as that of other 2 euro circulation coins, including material and size.
The national side of the commemorative coins issued by the bank of Latvia features the inscription “LATVIJA” (“LIETUVA” and “EESTI” on the coins issued by the Bank of Lithuania and Bank of Estonia, respectively), and the edge of the coin, like all other 2 euro circulation coins of the Republic of Latvia, features the inscription “DIEVS * SVĒTĪ * LATVIJU *”. The new 2 euro coins have been minted by UAB Lithuanian Mint (UAB Lietuvos monetų kalykla).
The new commemorative coins will be circulated in the same way as any other circulation money, reaching commercial and other enterprises as well as general public through banks. As of Wednesday, 31 January, the coin is available for exchange at the bank’s Cashier’s Offices in Riga and Liepāja. The mintage of the coin is 0.5 million pieces. The bank’s experience shows that this quantity is sufficient to allow all interested persons to exchange the coin over a period of at least several weeks. 5,000 coins of Brilliant Uncirculated quality in a special souvenir packing will also be on sale; its price at Latvian Bank Cashier’s Offices is 7.30 euro. 7,000 circulation coin sets will also be available; the price of the coin set at Cashier’s Offices is 25.00 euro.
Coins for exchange and in rolls will be available only at bank Cashier’s Offices. Coins in a souvenir packing and circulation coin sets will be available for purchase online via Bank of Latvia’s collector coin and other numismatic product site offering a wide range of collector coins and other numismatic products.
In close cooperation with JSC Swedbank, the possibility to pay by VISA, VISA Electron, MasterCard and Maestro payment cards as well as via the internet banks of JSC Swedbank, JSC Citadele banka and JSC SEB banka has been ensured. All purchased collector coins and numismatic products can be collected at Bank of Latvia Cashier’s Offices in Riga and Liepāja (for their addresses, see https://www.bank.lv/en/about-us/cashier-s-office) as well as by using delivery services of SJSC Latvijas Pasts, within the territory of Latvia. It is most likely to suit the needs of customers, e.g. from more distant regions, who are busy on the initial days of launching a new coin or due to other reasons cannot visit the Cashier’s Offices. As of 30 November the numismatic products purchased online are also delivered to individual customers in most EU countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The number of countries for the international deliveries will be increased.
The coin will also be available at such traditional points of sale as numismatic shops, book stores and souvenir and jewelry shops (for their addresses, see https://monetas.bank.lv/images/stories/pielikumi/nauda/Monetu-tirdzniecibas-vietas.pdf).
