The Latvijas Banka is issuing (7th November) silver collector coins entitled “Freedom Fights (1918–1920),” which are dedicated to the Latvian War of Independence and all the people who helped to win independence and hold freedom in high esteem. The Republic of Latvia as it is known today was born on the ruins of empires that had collapsed as a result of World War I. It took more than one and a half years for the people of Latvia to defend their newly acquired freedom and defeat external and internal enemies. The military and political fight demonstrated the political maturity of an emerging Latvian nation, its selflessness, and the right to live in an independent, democratic, and free Latvia.
One of the most significant and complicated stages in the history of Latvia was the period between the proclamation of the independence of the Republic of Latvia on the 18th November 1918 and the signing of the peace treaty recognising the new state with the newly formed Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the successor to the Russian Empire, on the 11th August 1920. This period is known today as the Latvian War of Independence. The name is relatively new, and it reflects the nature of the particular historical process in a concise manner.
From 1944 until the end of Soviet occupation, which officially ended in Latvia with their declaration of restored independence in May 1991, the country had been forcibly annexed into the USSR. A formal recognition of Latvia’s restored status was internationally recognised in September 1991 when Latvia was admitted into the United Nations. The Baltic nation became a member of the European Union in May 2004.
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The coins are produced by the UAB Lietuvos monetų kalykla — Lithuanian Mint at their facilities in Vilnius, on behalf of the Bank of Latvia, and are designed by Latvian artist Andris Vārpa. The obverse depicts a stylised march of fighters in the Cubist art style. Featured towards the left-centre, is a soldier bidding farewell to his fiancée. The inscription BRĪVĪBAS CĪŅAS (“freedom fights”) is arranged in a semicircle along the edge in the upper-right part. The inscriptions LATVIJA and the years 1918–1920 are located at the bottom part of the obverse.
The reverse design includes the red-white-red flag of Latvia, which is featured in the centre with broken entrenchment barriers on each side. The face value of 5 EURO is arranged in a semicircle along the edge in the upper-left part with the year 2019 in a semicircle along the edge in the lower-right part. The coin is minted using a two-colour print to feature the flag. The edge includes an incused inscription, LATVIJAS BANKA, separated by rhombic dots.
| Denom. |
Metal |
Weight | Diameter | Quality |
Maximum Mintage |
| Five euro |
.925 Silver |
22 g | 35 mm | Proof with applied colour |
4,000 |
The new coin is released for sale online via Latvijas Banka’s website from the 7th November for purchases of collector coins and other numismatic products, and at the Cashier’s Offices of Latvijas Banka at K. Valdemāra iela 1B in Riga and Teātra iela 3 in Liepāja. The purchase per buyer will be limited to two coins. For additional information about this coin and other coins released by the Bank of Latvia, please visit their website.
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