Latvijas Banka issues a collector coin 'Across the Times'

On Tuesday, 16 April, Latvijas Banka is releasing a collector coin "Across the Times" dedicated to the centenary of the Ethnographic Open-air Museum of Latvia and its tireless endeavours in passing on our national heritage to the future generations.

The Ethnographic Open-air Museum of Latvia ranks among Europe's oldest and largest museums of its kind, and it houses Latvia's oldest wooden architectural treasures. Since its inception in 1924, the museum has upheld its mission to preserve historical heritage for future generations throughout the ages. This heritage encompasses evidence detailing the architectural features and domestic items, shedding light on construction techniques and the traditional layout of homesteads belonging to peasants and fishermen, spanning a timeline from the 17th century to the mid-20th century.

The museum stands as a repository showcasing the homesteads of Latvian peasants and fishermen representing Kurzeme, Latgale, Vidzeme, Zemgale and Sēlija. It also accommodates craftsmen's houses-workshops, forges, potters' and tar kilns, windmills, churches of various denominations, the meeting house of the brethren congregation or Herrnhuters, the pub, the threshing barn, etc. Seasonal and other traditional Lavian festivities are celebrated at the museum, offering an opportunity to delve into their meaning and purpose.

The graphic design of the coin was created by the experienced coin artist Arvīds Priedīte who has depicted Latvian values on the coin – virtue of work and love for work, which have remained resilient throughout the passage of time. The museum exceeds the confines of a mere home, and the ancient tools hold significance beyond mere objects. Each item carries the trace of human touch, a story about the time when this person lived, the work that sustained his own existence and that of his kin and nation. Across the times, the sanctity of work has been deeply ingrained in our nation's fabric. In the tapestry of Latvian folk songs, the portrayal of God working is a unique characteristic rarely encountered in the mythologies of other cultures.

The museum hosts craft days and craft fairs, not only promoting the art of ancient crafts but also facilitating the passing down of these skills.

Ligita Franckeviča is the author of the coin's plaster model.

The collector coin will be available for purchase only on the website e-monetas.lv/en from 12:00 (noon) on 16 April.

The price of the coin is 75.00 euro; the purchase limit for one buyer is 5 coins. The mintage of the coin is 3000. The coin has been struck by UAB Lietuvos monetų kalykla in Lithuania.

Across the Times

Face value: 5 euro

Weight: 22.00 g

Diameter: 35.00 mm

Metal: silver of fineness .999

Quality: proof
Maximum mintage: 3000

Struck in 2024 by UAB Lietuvos monetų kalykla (Lithuania)

Artists

Graphic design: Arvīds Priedīte

Plaster model: Ligita Franckeviča

Obverse

In the centre – a woman mixing dough in a bread trough with a mixing paddle. Above the image – a spinning wheel, with the inscription "LATVIJAS ETNOGRĀFISKAIS BRĪVDABAS MUZEJS" (The Ethnographic Open-air Museum of Latvia) at the top, arranged in a semicircle. On both sides of the image – historic tools and household objects: on the left (from the top): a fish basket, a spoon board with spoons, a flour scoop, on the right (from left to right): a distaff, a bread-shovel and a washboard.

Reverse

In the centre – a man carving a trough with a pickaxe. Above the image – a horse-collar, to the left – a hand drill, to the right – a hand scythe. On the left – a broad-blade axe and a spoke-shave, on the right – a hand rake and a grain shovel. The inscription "2024" is arranged in a semicircle on the left side of the reverse, whereas the inscription "5 EURO" is semi-circled on the right side.

Edge

The inscriptions "LATVIJAS BANKA" and "LATVIJAS REPUBLIKA", separated by rhombic dots.