By Bank of Latvia ……
On Friday, 22 June, the Bank of Latvia is issuing a silver collector coin dedicated to the Garden of Destiny.
The graphic design of the collector coin “Likteņdārzs” (The Garden of Destiny) was created by artist Frančeska Kirke, and the author of the plaster model was Ligita Franckeviča. The coin was struck by the Royal Dutch Mint. The obverse of the coin depicts the amphitheater of the Garden of Destiny enclosed by the Daugava waters, with color printing. The reverse reflects human faces in silver.
The idea of the Garden of Destiny came as a response to a heartfelt desire of the people to create a national memorial site in honor of those 600,000 people of Latvia who suffered and perished during the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century. On 7 June 2005, a group of initiators established the Koknese Foundation. Its aim is to create a memorial site symbolizing our nation’s grief for the victims, commemorating their lives and resilience, but also inspiring us for the future. The donation of 640,000 euro by Vilis and Marta Vītols formed the initial capital. Since its launch, 2.5 million euros have been invested in the project.
The Garden of Destiny is rising on an island in the Daugava River near Koknese. This picturesque area is a crossroads of cultural and historical diversity of Zemgale, Sēlija and Vidzeme where threads and vibes of Latvia’s history and mythology intersect. The author of the Garden of Destiny concept and the winner of the international competition is Shunmyo Masuno, a Japanese landscape architect. The landscape conjured by him gradually transforms the visitors’ grief and sorrow into reflective healing of the soul, making people ready to meet eternity, embodied by timeless light, wind, water, and earth. Masuno’s concept is brought to life thanks to the efforts of Koknese Foundation.
Over the years, tens of thousands have engaged in creating the Garden of Destiny by donating or lending a hand. The number of project supporters exceeds 500 thousand, and visitors from at least 54 countries have come to the site. The Garden of Destiny is nurtured as the nation’s present to Latvia on its centenary. The Freedom Monument is our legacy from the generations of the previous century; the Garden of Destiny will be our legacy to the future generations. It is memory, inspiration, and strength.
“We would like to thank [the Bank of Latvia] for the beautiful coin which has been created as a present for the Garden of Destiny. We would like to express our gratitude to artists Frančeska Kirke and Ligita Franckeviča, as well as Laimonis Šēnbergs, Deputy Chairman of the Coin Design Commission of [the bank], for their valuable contribution. They have excellently managed to embody the essence of the Garden of Destiny in the coin: commemoration of the huge losses our nation suffered in the previous century and at the same time assurance of its tremendous strength, tenacity, and resolution to attain a free and sovereign state. I believe this is really one of the most beautiful coins issued by Latvijas Banka, and it is likely to gain international recognition,” says Vilis Vītols, the author of the concept of the Koknese Foundation and the Chairman of its Council.
The collector coin “The Garden of Destiny” is legal tender in the Republic of Latvia, yet the release of such coins in circulation is highly unlikely, as they are in fact works of art and are in special demand among coin collectors and other interested parties. The maximum mintage of the coin is limited to 3,000.
The price of the coin at the bank’s Cashier’s Offices and via e-monetas.lv is 50.00 euro.
Please, pay attention: the new coin will be on sale on 22 June at Cashier’s Offices at K. Valdemāra iela 1B in Riga and Teātra iela 3 in Liepāja. On 22, 23, and 24 June it will be available online via e-monetas.lv, the bank’s website for purchases of collector coins and other numismatic products, offering a wide selection of collector coins and other numismatic products issued by the Latvian Bank. E-monetas.lv can be used by both individuals as well as Latvia’s businesses. As of 22 June, the collector coin will be available for sale at the Garden of Destiny, Koknese pagasts.
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 Cashier’s Offices in Riga and Liepāja (for their addresses, see 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. This is convenient for customers, e.g. from more distant regions, who cannot visit the Cashier’s Offices on the initial days of launching a new coin or due to their work engagements or other reasons. E-monetas.lv can also be used to purchase numismatic products by individuals and legal persons abroad. The products are currently delivered to 35 countries – most EU countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
