Latvijas Banka is issuing 'Cabbage', a collector coin layered with symbolism

On Monday, 16 December, Latvijas Banka will issue a silver collector coin "Cabbage" highlighting its deep symbolism associated with health, wealth, and well-being. 

It is believed that cabbage became known in the territory that is now Latvia between the 11th and 13th centuries, and it soon became one of the main vegetables used in our ancestors' cooking. That said, the versatile cabbage serves more purposes than just cooking. 

In ancient Greece and Rome, cabbage was believed to have healing properties and was valued as a highly beneficial plant. According to ancient Roman mythology, the chief god Jupiter broke into a sweat as he struggled to interpret an oracle's prophecy. The god's perspiration fell to earth and turned into cabbage heads. The Romans referred to this vegetable as caput (head). So, "cabbage head" essentially means a "head of heads" as the word "cabbage" can be traced back to the Latin caput. 

The green cabbage leaves are associated with the green of banknotes. Furthermore, the word "cabbage" is sometimes used as a metaphor for money or wealth. On 26 July, the day of Anna, Latvians exchanged cabbage leaves as gifts believing that doing so would increase their wealth. 

It was believed that eating cabbages enhances fertility, a notion that echoes the myth that babies are found or born in cabbages. 

On the New Year's Eve, Latvians traditionally eat sauerkraut for the year's "sour" moments or failures to leave no trace. 

Cabbage leaves are also used in traditional medicine where they are applied to the sick part of the body. 

Even if it is only a myth that cabbages bring wealth, health, and offspring, it is undeniable that this vegetable has become an integral part of home life and cooking. 

The clever concept for the collector coin was created by artist Mārtiņš Rozenfelds who submitted his design proposal to the open design competition organised by Latvijas Banka at the end of 2023. 

The collector coin will be available for purchase only on the website https://www.e-monetas.lv/en from 12.00 (noon) on 16 December. The price of the coin is 89.00 euro; the purchase limit for one buyer is 4 coins. The mintage of the coin is 3500. The coin has been struck by UAB Lietuvos monetų kalykla in Lithuania.

CABBAGE

Face value: 5 euro

Weight: 23.00 g

Shape: irregular; the longest distance between the sides of the coin, measured through its centre – 30.00 mm

Metal: silver of fineness .999

Quality: proof

Maximum mintage: 3500

Struck in 2024 by Lietuvos monetų kalykla (Lithuania)

Artist

Graphic design: Mārtiņš Rozenfelds

Obverse

A bird's-eye view of an embossed head of cabbage. The inscription "LATVIJA" is semi-circled along the upper edge, whereas the inscription "5 EURO" is placed at the bottom.

Reverse

A view from below of an embossed chopped head of a cabbage. The inscription "2024" is placed at the centre, where the cabbage is cored. 

Edge

Plain

Cabbage is a vegetable that holds significant symbolic meaning. The vegetable reached the territory that is now Latvia between the 11th and 13th centuries through multiple routes and soon became one of the main vegetables used in our ancestors' cooking. In ancient Greece and Rome, cabbage was believed to have healing properties and was valued as a highly beneficial plant. According to ancient Roman mythology, the chief god Jupiter broke into a sweat as he struggled to interpret an oracle's prophecy. The god's perspiration fell to earth and turned into cabbage heads. The Romans referred to this vegetable as caput (head). So, "cabbage head" essentially means a "head of heads" as the word "cabbage" can be traced back to the Latin caput. 

The green cabbage leaves are associated with the green of banknotes. Furthermore, the word "cabbage" is sometimes used as a metaphor for large sums of money or wealth. On 26 July, the day of Anna, Latvians exchanged cabbage leaves as gifts believing that doing so would increase their wealth. Folk wisdom has it that fermented cabbage or sauerkraut heated nine times transforms into meat. It was believed that eating cabbages can enhance fertility, a notion only a step away from the myth that babies are found or born in cabbages. 

On the New Year's Eve, Latvians traditionally eat sauerkraut for the year's "sour" moments or failures to leave no trace. Cabbage leaves are also used in traditional medicine where they are applied to the sick part of the body. Turn it however you want – cabbages bring wealth, health, and offspring. May cabbages multiply!

Activity of Latvijas Banka regarding the issuance of collector coins and 2 euro commemorative coins 

Since 1993, Latvijas Banka has issued 98 lats collector coins and 57 euro collector coins. Overall, more than 50 artists from Latvia and now also 1 artist from Ukraine have participated in designing Latvian coins.

Latvian coins have received high international recognition and a number of prestigious awards; moreover, the "Coin of Latvia" won the international 2010 Coin of the Year Award at the contest organised by US numismatics publishing house Krause Publications and its magazine World Coin News. In 2015, the silver collector coin "The Baltic Way" was recognised as the Best Contemporary Event Coin at this contest, whereas in 2018, the collector coin "National Entrepreneur" was named the Most Artistic Coin of the Year. At the competition Coin of the Year Awards (COTY) in 2020, the "Honey coin", Latvijas Banka's collector coin, was announced the world's Most Artistic Coin and the Coin of the Year.

The Coin Design Commission of Latvijas Banka (the former Commission for the Thematic Concept of the Banknotes and Coins), which has been active since 12 November 1993, plays an important role in the coin issuing process. The Commission consists of employees of Latvijas Banka, outstanding experts in Latvian art and culture as well as artists and scientists. 

After the euro changeover, Latvijas Banka has carried on the tradition of issuing collector coin series with motifs characteristic of Latvia and executed in high artistic quality. These coins are legal tender only in the issuing country. They are unlikely to come into general circulation, for, by nature, they are works of art enjoying high demand from the numismatic community and other interested parties. 

The face value of collector coins must differ from that of coins in general circulation (it must be, e.g. 5 euro or 10 euro). Their specifications, including colour, diameter, weight, material, etc. have to be cardinally distinctive from those of the coins in general circulation. 

For information on the collector coins on sale at e-monetas.lv/en and the Cashier's Office of Latvijas Banka, see https://www.e-monetas.lv/en and https://monetas.bank.lv/en/coins-for-sale. 

The issuance of 2 euro commemorative coins (2 euro circulation coins of special design) is another area of coin art. Each year, every euro area country is entitled to issue two 2 euro commemorative coins (similar to 1 lats special circulation coins previously issued in Latvia), featuring events of national, European or global significance. The euro area countries can additionally produce a third 2 euro commemorative coin, provided that it is issued jointly and that it commemorates events of European Union-wide importance. 

Commemorative coins bear the same features and the same common or European side as the normal 2 euro circulation coins, while their national sides differ and feature a national commemorating motif. 

Euro commemorative coins are legal tender throughout the euro area. This means they can be used – and must be accepted – just like any other euro coin.