Latvia

2023

Commemorative coin

Ukrainian sunflower

Official Journal of the European Union

The design represents a sunflower, which is one of the national symbols of Ukraine, as Ukraine is one of the biggest sunflower oil producers and exporters worldwide. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the sunflower has become a global symbol for peace. For the first time sunflowers were used as a peace symbol in the summer of 1996. Then they were planted in a military base near Pervomaysk, approximately 155 miles south of the capital Kyiv. Now sunflowers are used as a symbol of peace and support to Ukraine worldwide. At the top, in semi-circle, is the inscription ‘SLAVA UKRAINAI!’ (Glory to Ukraine) and at the bottom, in semi-circle, is the name of the issuing country ‘LATVIJA’ followed by the year of issuance ‘2023’. The author of the design is the Latvian artist Krišs Salmanis. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

Ukraine is home to the world's largest acreage of sunflowers and is a leader in the production and export of sunflower oil. The coin is dedicated to the sunflower, the national symbol of Ukraine, and to the struggle of the Ukrainian people for their continued existence in peace and freedom. The Ukrainian resistance since the occupation and annexation of Crimea by Russia as well as the secession of parts of the Donbas in 2014 and intensified since the invasion of Russian troops that began on 24 February 2022 is also actively supported by Latvia. The proceeds of the commemorative coins issued as coin cards will be donated to Ukraine. Coin designer ''Krišs Salmanis'' chose the flower, which has become a worldwide symbol of peace, as the motif. In the flower basket surrounded by ray florets, the many fruits formed from tubular flowers close together stand out, forming numerous spirals (running clockwise or anti-clockwise). These are called 'Fibonacci spirals' after the Italian arithmetician Leonardo Fibonacci (1170-1242) and are associated with the golden section.

Edge lettering

Designer