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Latvia replaced its previous currency, the lats, with the euro on 1 January 2014
1; 2; 5 euro cents, Latvia
The 1, 2 and 5-cent coins show the small coat of arms of the Republic of Latvia. The Latvian coins were designed by Guntars Sietinš and Laimonis Šenbergs.
Red Lion and a silver griffin - ancient heraldic symbols depicting historical regions of Latvia. They are known even from the XVI century. For example, a red lion, symbolizing the West Latvia (Kurland and Zemgale), depicted on the emblem of the Grand Duchy of Courland and Semigalskogo from 1569. Silver Griffin was used as a symbol of Eastern Latvia (Vidzeme and Latgale) from 1566, when the area was part of the Commonwealth.
Small state coat of arms is considered to be divided into three parts of the shield in the upper part of which depicts a stylized sun, and the lower - red lion on the left and right silver griffin. three gold stars in a semicircle depicted above the shield. On average, the state emblem of the shield still has two oak branches.
Stylized rising sun with radiating rays is used as a sign of national identity, symbolizing the statehood of Latvia. This image was used during World War I the Latvian riflemen who participated in the fighting in the troops of the Russian Empire. Sun depicted with seventeen rays symbolizing unity 17 counties in which resided Letts. Located above the shield star - the symbol of a United Latvia, uniting in its composition three historical regions: Latgale, Vidzeme and Courland-Zemgale.
10; 20; 50 euro cents, Latvia
The 10, 20 and 50-cent coins show the Latvian coat of arms. The rising sun in the upper part of the emblem stands for Latvian sovereignty. The three golden stars shown above this signify the unification of the country’s three historic parts.
Latvia's national emblem is used in three ways: large, medium and small. At the heart of the Great State Coat of Arms of Latvia - a shield divided into three parts. The top half on an azure background shows a stylized rising sun, in the lower left-hand parts- red lion with a golden tongue of silver, and to the right at the bottom - a silver griffin with a golden tongue and a sword in his right paw on a red field. Shield keeps rearing silver griffin scarlet lion on the right and the left, and above it a semicircular three gold five-pointed stars.
Lev and Griffin depicted standing on the green oak branches intercepted tape, which consists of red (at the edges) and silver (center) of bands representing the colors of the national flag of Latvia.
Red Lion and a silver griffin - ancient heraldic symbols depicting historical regions of Latvia. They are known even from the XVI century. For example, a red lion, symbolizing the West Latvia (Kurland and Zemgale), depicted on the emblem of the Grand Duchy of Courland and Semigalskogo from 1569. Silver Griffin was used as a symbol of Eastern Latvia (Vidzeme and Latgale) from 1566, when the area was part of the Commonwealth.
1 and 2 euro, Latvia
The Latvian €1 and €2 coins show a Latvian folk maiden in profile. Folk costumes are an important part of Latvian culture. Some of the costumes continue to be worn on special occasions and are passed down from one generation to the next.
Silver pyatilatovik with the image of the girl, which received the name of the people Milda - a well-known and popular coin in Latvia. It was first released in the period of the First Republic of Latvia. Latvian Lats was in circulation in the period from 1922 to 1940, and in 1993 was again introduced as the national currency. The design of the coin belongs to Richard Zarins, who created designs for a number of Russian, Belarusian and Latvian postage stamps and banknotes of Russia and Latvia. His work is quite multifaceted: book illustrations, posters, drawings for magazines, sketches, stamps, banknotes, stocks and invitations, watercolors, etchings, bookplates.
