Banks, Financial Services, Latvia

The author of its graphic design and plaster model is artist Aigars Bikse. Amber - is embedded in the middle of the "Amber Coin", marking its significance. The obverse also features the inscription "one lat" in the left part and a picture of sea waves on the right part. Under the amber cylinder, there is the inscription "Republic of Latvia" and mint year, 2010. The reverse feature a picture of an eye with an amber pupil.

"Amber - a mineral and semiprecious stone originating from the resin of ancient amber pines that used to grow in the territory of Latvia and is still washed ashore the Baltic Sea in small pieces - is now embedded in the "Amber Coin", marking its significance. In a way, the coin is also dedicated to all Latvian cities, towns and communities situated on the coast of the sea," said Gravitis.

Amber has always been part of the Latvian heritage and even economy: amber jewelry has been made in Latvia for thousands of years; the oldest coins found in the Latvian territory came from ancient Rome by way of the so-called Amber Route and were paid for with amber, Gravitis informed.

Money and amber literally meet in this coin: a small piece of amber has been carefully embedded in each coin. According to the artist's idea, the small amber cylinder has become the pupil of an eye. The eye that helps to look into the past and the surrounding world.

The one-lat silver "Amber Coin" is legal tender in the Republic of Latvia. The maximum number of issued coins is limited to 7,000. The "Amber Coin" will be on sale at the Bank of Latvia and such traditional points of coin sale as banks and souvenir and jewelry shops.

The price of the coin at the Bank of Latvia's cashier offices is LVL 28. As the production of the coins requires slow and accurate work, mintage batches will be sent to Latvia gradually.

Money in form, Bank of Latvia collector coins are in fact works of art. They are usually made of gold, silver or other precious metals of especially high fineness. As opposed to currency in general circulation, collector coins are usually not intended to be used as a means of payment, but as a gift, souvenir or collector's item. Consequently, the price of collector coins is considerably higher than their nominal value.