Baltic states to jointly issue commemorative coin celebrating their centenary

RIGA - The central banks of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have agreed to jointly issue a commemorative two-euro coin in 2018, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Latvian and Estonian states and the 100th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Lithuanian statehood.

The design of the coin will be selected in a popular online vote which will be held in all three Baltic states.

The two-euro coin is intended to remind the citizens of the Baltic states and elsewhere in the euro area of the determination of the Baltic nations to defend their regained statehood. At the same time, the coin has to be a testimony of the unity of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian nations and their readiness to cooperate for the sake of their independence and freedom.

Together with the Lithuanian and Estonian colleagues, the Bank of Latvia has already started the preparations for selecting the design as all three countries will present their ideas for the design of the two-euro commemorative coin. Latvia plans to invite artists to take part in a competition for the best concept. Overall six concepts, two from each country, will be presented for the popular vote this spring. The vote will be held on a dedicated website to be announced later.

The creation of the first common commemorative coin of the Baltic states in cooperation with our closest neighbors is one of the top highlights in the overall program of events to be implemented by the Bank of Latvia in the context of the centenary celebrations.

As reported, the Bank of Latvia will mark Latvia's centenary by issuing series of commemorative and collector coins, as well as separate coins, as well as researching the Latvian central bank's history in the context of the history of the Latvian state and economy.