Latvia

2014

Commemorative coin

Riga — European Capital of Culture 2014

Official Journal of the European Union

The central image of the coin shows the skyline of Riga and the historic centre of the city that has been included in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. At the top of the image, the inscription ‘EIROPAS KULTURAS GALVASPILSETA’ (European capital of culture) and at the bottom the name of the celebrated city and the year of issuance ‘RIGA — 2014’, and underneath the indication of the issuing country ‘LV’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

Riga's Old and New Town have been considered World Heritage Sites since 1997. The coin shows Riga Castle on the banks of the Duna River, the official residence of the Latvian President, which was forcibly built for the Livonian Order by the citizens of the Hanseatic City (who had pulled down the castle built by the Order of the Brothers of the Sword in 1330-1353 in 1484) until 1515. In 1939, its three-star tower (third tower from the left in the coin), whose top is formed by the three stars that symbolise the regions of Latvia, was added. Left background: tower of St. John's Church (Sv. Jana baznica), built around 1500, next to it the Cathedral of St. James (Svētā Jēkaba katedrāle), first mentioned in 1225, with an octagonal spire redesigned in 1756 in Baroque style. Centre: St. Peter's Church (Svētā Pētera baznīca), built around 1200 in brick Gothic style and rebuilt after a town fire in 1721. Right: Riga Cathedral (Rīgas Doms), main church of the city, built 1211-1270, with a tower rebuilt in baroque style after a fire in 1776. The coins were minted at the Baden-Württemberg Mint.

Edge lettering

Designer