Latvia

2015

Commemorative coin

Endangered nature – the Black Stork

Official Journal of the European Union

The design shows a black stork (Ciconia nigra) which is considered to be one of the nature conservation flagship species in Europe. In 2005 the Black Stork Protection Plan was adopted in Latvia. At the bottom of the design is the name of the issuing country ‘LATVIJA’ and underneath the year of issuance ‘2015’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

From mid-April to the end of August, the white stork's nests and their inhabitants dominate the Latvian landscape - 5% of all white storks in the world breed here. The shy and hidden breeding Black Stork - more common in the Baltic States than in Central and Western Europe - has been the subject of a protection programme supported by the "Latvian Ornithological Society" founded 30 years ago. Storks in general are considered a symbol of nature conservation. The motif of the stork already existed on the former national currency, the lats, on the 1-lats coin in circulation.

Edge lettering

Designer