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In 2026, the Bank of Lithuania (Latvijas Banka) will launch an ambitious numismatic program that will combine five collector coins, a commemorative €2 coin, and a euro set with its circulation coins. These issues will reflect some of Latvia's most representative cultural, natural, and artistic symbols, reinforcing the role of currency as a vehicle for memory and identity.
The release dates will be announced shortly before each piece is made available to the public.
The wedding crown: a symbol of passage and tradition
One of the coins will be dedicated to the bridal crown, an essential element of traditional Latvian dress. In popular culture, the crown—often crafted from metal, flowers, or plant elements—is not just an ornament, but a powerful symbol of transition.
In traditional Latvian weddings, the crown symbolized the bride's purity and status. During the marriage ceremony, removing the crown marked her transition from youth to adulthood and married life. This ceremonial gesture was part of elaborate celebrations filled with folk songs (dainas), dances, and ancestral rituals.
The coin dedicated to the wedding crown will not only evoke the aesthetics of Baltic folklore, but also the importance of preserving traditions that have survived centuries of historical change.
“Golden Seed”: a gold coin with a message of the future
The “Golden Seed” gold coin points to a more universal symbolism. The seed represents the origin of life, potential, and continuity. In the Latvian context, it can be linked both to agriculture—historically fundamental to the country's economy—and to the idea of cultural and national growth.
Latvia, with its vast forests and fertile lands, maintains a deep connection with nature. Thus, the “golden seed” can be interpreted as a metaphor for sustainability, renewal, and hope for the future. The use of gold underscores the value and transcendence of the concept.
Creative energy: the Latvian cultural drive
Another coin will be dedicated to creative energy, a concept that fits particularly well with contemporary Latvian identity. Despite its size, Latvia has excelled in choral music, design, architecture, and visual arts.
Large-scale events like the Song and Dance Festival—inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage—demonstrate the collective strength of national creativity. This coin will likely explore dynamic shapes, moving lines, or innovative compositions to represent that intangible force that drives culture and innovation.
The chestnut tree: nature, memory and landscape
The chestnut tree will be featured on another collector's coin. This tree, common in Latvian parks and avenues, has strong symbolic value in Europe: longevity, stability, and seasonal renewal.
In spring, their white and pink blossoms illuminate the cityscape; in autumn, their fruit marks the passage of time. In the popular imagination, trees are often associated with resilience and rootedness, qualities that resonate with Latvia's history, marked by periods of occupation and the regaining of independence.
Anna Brigadere's Fairy Tale Characters
A specially commemorative coin will pay tribute to the characters created by Anna Brigadere, one of the most beloved figures in Latvian literature. Her most famous work, Sprīdītis, tells the story of a young hero who embarks on a journey filled with trials and discoveries.
The Brigadere stories combine fantasy and moral values, extolling perseverance, kindness, and love of country. The numismatic representation of these characters connects the coinage to the world of childhood and national narrative tradition, reinforcing the educational and cultural dimension of the program.
Commemorative 2 euro coin: the Christmas market tradition
A commemorative €2 coin will also be issued in 2026, dedicated to the Christmas market tradition in Latvia. These markets, especially popular in Riga, fill the historic squares with lights, local crafts, traditional sweets, and mulled wine.
The coin will be available as a coincard in BU quality and in rolls of 25 coins that will be released into circulation. In addition, a euroset of circulating coins, also in BU quality, will be launched with the same theme.
Christmas markets are not just a tourist attraction; they are a space for community gathering where artisanal traditions, gastronomy, and winter celebrations converge. In the Baltic context, winter carries a strong symbolic weight, and these markets represent light and togetherness during the darkest season of the year.
Numismatics as a mirror of identity
The Latvian Bank 's 2026 program demonstrates once again how numismatics transcends its economic function to become an artistic and cultural medium. From the delicate beauty of a bridal wreath to the literary fantasy of Brigadere, and encompassing nature and winter traditions, each coin will act as a small metallic ambassador of Latvian identity.
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