Banks, Financial Services, History, Latvia

The author of the coin's graphic design is Laimonis Šēnbergs, and Ligita Franckeviča created its plaster model. It has been struck by Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt (the Netherlands).

The front side of this silver collector coin bears the obverse of the ferding struck in 1515, featuring the family coats of arms of Riga Archbishop Jasper Linde and Master of the Livonian Order Wolter von Plettenberg as well as some elements of the Livonian Order cross. The other side of the coin replicates the reverse of the ferding struck in 1515, with an image of standing Virgin Mary holding a child and sceptre in her hands on it. The shining outer ring bears the inscriptions "2015", "VĒRDIŅAM" and "500".

The coin "500 Years of Livonian Ferding" commemorates the anniversary of a significant historical event and a currency unit of Latvia – the Livonian ferding. This silver ferding is not exactly a circulation coin for everyday use but rather a little miracle, empowered to promote national distinction and understanding of interrelatedness of the European monetary system. This is not the first collector coin dedicated to the history of Latvian money: four years ago, the 800 year anniversary of Bishop Albert's pfennig was celebrated with a collector coin featuring a new image of the pfennig.

The collector coin "500 years of Livonian Ferding" is legal tender in the Republic of Latvia (yet hardly to be found in circulation, as collector coins in general are miniature works of art, highly admired and demanded by the numismatic community and other interested parties). Its maximum mintage is limited to 7 000 coins.

The price of the coin at Cashier's Offices of Latvijas Banka is 28 euro. As of 8 December, it will be on sale at Latvijas Banka Cashier's Offices (K. Valdemāra 1B in Riga and Teātra 3 in Liepāja) and such traditional points of sale as coin shops, book stores and souvenir and jewellery shops.