Latvia asks collectors to vote for its best collectors coin from the six issued in 2017

Every year the Bank of Latvia asks coin collectors to vote for their favourite Latvian precious metal coin and this year is no exception. This producer has always punched well above their weight and has issued some very interesting and eclectic designs over the last few years. There’s a good mix in the 2017 selection of six releases and you can vote at a special webpage set up for the purpose (blue button link at bottom). Registered voters will have the chance to win one of 16 coins up for grabs, including one gold one, so plenty of incentive. The very well done videos below detail all of the coins individually and while the audio is Latvian, there are subtitles. Good luck to all

PRESS RELEASE: From 3 April to 17 April 2018, Latvijas Banka, in cooperation with the news portal Delfi, organises a public vote for Latvia’s Coin of the Year 2017. Such a public vote takes place on a regular basis; it is an important annual event in Latvian coin art.

Everyone is invited to express his/her opinion as to which of the collector coins minted in 2017 is the most appealing one in terms of the artistic solution, is emotionally moving, original or depicts the most interesting subject. The results of the vote and the award ceremony on 27 April will acknowledge artists’ creativity and will show which issues and artistic solutions are the most popular with the public.

The results of the vote will be announced at the award ceremony on 27 April 2018 and published on Latvijas Banka’s website bank.lv, as well as in the portals “Delfi.lv” and “rus.Delfi.lv”. The vote will conclude with a draw where registered participants will have a chance to win one out of a pool of 16 collector coins all issued in 2017.

Six collector coins dedicated to Latvian culture, history and people were issued in 2017. Fairy Tale Coin III. The Old Man’s Mitten, “Latgale Congress”, “Gold Brooches. The Horseshoe Fibula”, “Eduards Veidenbaums”, “Smith Forges in the Sky” and “The First Session of LPNC”.

Latvia is proud of its coin design developed over more than 25 years. Latvian banknotes and coins, with over 50 best Latvian artists having participated in designing them, are included in the Cultural Canon of Latvia, and many coins have received high international recognition and a number of prestigious awards. These coins are considered to be a perfect gift promoting Latvia’s culture, art and innovative design.

One of the purposes of the silver and gold collector coins is to tell the story of essential events in Latvian history, personalities, achievements in culture and philosophical categories to people in Latvia and abroad. Each coin carries a laconic message communicating rich content. It has been developed in an intensive creative process managed by the Coin Design Commission of Latvijas Banka, consisting of Latvijas Banka’s specialists, outstanding Latvian experts of art and culture, and artists.

Expert commission of the Latvian National Museum of Art (LNMM), composed of Māra Lāce, LNMM Director, Inese Baranovska, Head of LNMM Museum of Decorative Art and Design, and Elita Ansone, Head of LNMM Collections and Scientific Research Department ARSENĀLS, will decide which is the best coin in terms of artistic solution. This coin will be awarded the LNMM Special Award.